Columbus Café Announces Canadian Expansion

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As the local coffee shop industry looks to rebound from a difficult time over the last two years, popular France-based brand Columbus Café & Co is planning an expansion in Quebec with four new cafes.

Founded in 1994 as the first coffee-shop chain in France, the brand is considered to be one of the contenders to fill the void that Starbucks left when the Seattle-based chain closed a significant part of its storecount in 2020.

The new cafes set to open in the province include:

  • CF Carrefour Laval (910 sq. ft.)
  • 262 Ste-Catherine Street West (former Starbucks)
  • 2153 Ste-Catherine Street West (1883 sq. ft.)
  • 269 Rue Sicard, Sainte-Thérèse (2088 sq. ft.)

The Rue Sicard location was announced as its first drive-thru cafe in Quebec.

Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)

Columbus Cafe has partnered with Canadian brokerage Think Retail to launch its Canadian stores, and is seeking additional locations in Montreal with high-traffic street front locations with an optimal size of 1,500 square feet. The brand would also consider the right fit in regional malls, open-air centres and other non-conventional locations according to Think Retail.

Tony Flanz

“It’s an exciting time for this marque global brand as it makes it mark in North America,” shared Tony Flanz, President & CEO of Think Retail. “The Think Retail team is proud to work with this forward-thinking company that epitomizes quality on every level, from its delicious coffee to gourmet menu and fabulous branding.”

The first North American café made its debut on Mont-Royal Avenue in Montreal in 2020 and has since added locations on Park Avenue and last week with the new 910-sq.-ft. cafe at CF Carrefour Laval.

Columbus Café & Co is looking to open about 80 locations in the next three years, which means the expansion is ongoing and will be significant.

Additional Images from Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval

Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)

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