Sam Jones had long envisioned opening a coffee shop with a pristine ocean view.
Last week, that vision became reality when he opened Sequoia Coastal Coffee, a pop-up coffee shop on Latoria Boulevard in Colwood’s Royal Bay neighbourhood.
“This location has been on the back of my mind for six to eight years,” said Jones. “I remember drawing pictures of a sea canister cafe right here at the Royal Bay Centre, that was back when it was still a full quarry.”
Jones, who owns 2% Jazz Coffee, along with his business partner, Truffle Group, are the owners of Sequoia Coastal Coffee. They were approached by GableCraft Homes, one of the major Royal Bay developers, about building the pop-up shop.
“Our vision here on West Shore and the Royal Bay development is to offer a convenient location for people to meet, congregate, talk to each other and enjoy coffee and treats,” said Jones.
The new Colwood coffee shop has both walk-up and drive-thru windows. It also features a large green space for customers to safely socialize.
It’s ultimately all part of a larger puzzle within the rapidly expanding Royal Bay area, where daycares, liquor and grocery stores, as well as more housing developments, are expected within the next few years.
“We have a vision, a very long term vision for this community to be successful in the next 15-100 years,” says Colwood Mayor Rob Martin.
Jones and his partners were given a three-year temporary lease for the property but hopes – what he calls a one-in-a-million location – will become a long-term home.
“The view that I’m looking at right now is so unbelievable, I get to see all of Victoria, Esquimalt, Mount Baker in behind,” he said. “If there’s a better view in Canada I’d love to see it.”
Ben Nesbit
