phil & sebastian calgary

[pants]

so i was waiting for my coffee to be ground at phil & sebastian at the market the other day and i overheard the fellow tell a customer that they are opening a cafe downtown...anybody know where or when?

[John Manzo]

pants, I've heard where it is but have been asked to keep quiet until the legal and financials are taken care of. It's close to being settled now and if everything goes as hoped we'll see P&S at a great location downtown.

[pants]

not even a hint....

:)

[John Manzo]

I posted a hint at coffeegeek and was politely asked not to do that. However since it's now been several weeks after I was told "two weeks until our announcement" I'm not sure if the deal has fallen through, which would be very surprising.

One problem with dropping hints is that the location in question is currently occupied by another business and the employees (last I heard) don't know any deal is in the works.

[Strider]

I was fortunate enough to have seen your hint on CG before it got taken down... If it does work out, it'll be an excellent location... pretty much the same distance from my office as Artigiano will be. Finally... not only will I have a place to buy beans during the work week, I'll have a couple choices!

[CookieGal]

Speaking of Artigiano..... Any word on opening????

My heart is going to be torn between two loves.... Phil + Sebastian and my Vancouver fav!

[John Manzo]

it's looking like January for sure- they're doing training (where I know not) and the space is getting there- I'll be sure to stroll past there when I get to my last Xmas present shop next week.

[John Manzo]

Word from the horse's mouth is that the deal has fallen through. They'll be looking for a new location in the new year.

Sad coffeegeek here :-(

[John Manzo]

I heard from one of the Calgary coffee glitterati that P&S will be opening a location late this summer that should make Pants and Cookiegal (as in Marda Loopers) very happy....

[pants]

yay!!! that makes me feel better since I read this morning the Sobey's pulled out of the new bldg on 33rd

[John Manzo]

Sobey's actually pulled out a while back- Shoppers replaced- but there will be world-class coffee in the same bldg!

[pants]

perfect - right out my back door!! I'm still very disappointed about sobey's though - doomed to live by safeway! they said that it was due to "uncertain economic times" but i think that most of the neighbourhood would be relieved not to have to go to safeway anymore...they would have done well.

[maplesugar]

I was at safeway recently and got stickershock when looking at the prices of some of the things I regularly get at Superstore. Superstore has it's own issues but I'm willing to put up with long lines and bagging my own groceries if it means I spend 20 or so % less on food.

[John Manzo]

I've heard that Sobey's is abandoning the whole urban format concept- which is a damn shame because the one I saw pics of in Oliver (Edm) look fantastic.

I also heard that Sobey's had an agreement with the builder of Treo to the effect that if the building weren't done by a certain time, Sobey's would pull out.

BUT the good news is not only that you're getting an OUTSTANDING coffeehouse (finally), but that Shoppers has a growing grocery section- check out the new one in Vetro (by Manuel Latruwe)- it is quite impressive. No produce but lots else.

[pants]

that's too bad about Sobey's I heard the urban market they have in the south is great. Shopper's is still a good addition to the neighbourhood but not quite the same. P&S will be very successful, I'm sure with their own shop they'll offer more for food(snacks, lunch) as well?

well, at least the new sunterra at keynote(when it's open) and the downtown co-op are on my way home from work so i can still avoid safeway except for the odd item that gets forgotten...

[23skidoo]

Too bad about Sobey's! I hate some things about Safeway... the bread is just bad, the fish selection is small and vaguely smelly, and so often I see produce like cilantro or tomatoes rotting...

But I could appreciate a Shopper's if it's open late like the one on 17th.

[John Manzo]

Had a chat with Phil at the market yesterday- they are aiming for an opening in September in Marda Loop- and Pants, P&S will have food ("good food" per Phil) which will be an important departure for these guys that I hope they can pull off.

Meantime, look for a grand opening of their new roasting facility (in a SE industrial park) in a month or so.

[Bagel Guy]

I have no doubt Phil & Sebastien will do well with their new Marda Loop location, and their "good food" will be superb. I'm also certain they will not continue at the Calgary Farmers' Market when they fold up their tent next October.

[John Manzo]

Yeah, we didn't discuss that but I think the writing's on the wall... but never say never; JJ Bean still manages an outlet at Granville Island.

[elconquistador]

Thanks all for the nice comments. We love the market concept and we don't have plans to leave.

[maplesugar]

Glad to hear you're staying at CFM and congrats on the new place! :)

[Hoj]

I, for one, am very excited for the new location.

[John Manzo]

I. for one, welcome our new coffee overlords.

[MeXx]

ever since moving to calgary, was told it was the best coffee in town... people weren't lying! :)