Second Cup Café recently opened its newest café at Oakville GO Station with longtime franchisees Yaling and Quan Ma, who have been part of the Second Cup Café brand for 18 years.
“Opening this new location at Oakville GO Station is an exciting addition to our ongoing partnership with Metrolinx,” said Roxane Desjardins, marketing director at Second Cup Café. “Yaling and Quan have been valued members of our franchise network for 18 years, and their experience and dedication to the brand make them wonderful partners as we continue to grow our presence in convenient, high-traffic locations.”
The brand is part of Foodtastic, one of Canada’s largest restaurant franchisors, operating more than 1,200 locations across the country. Its diverse portfolio includes Freshii, Quesada, Pita Pit, Second Cup, Milestones, and over 22 other banners.
Busy transit station
David Di Raddo, Brand Leader for Second Cup, said Oakville GO is one of the busiest stations in the GO network, with about 10,000 riders passing through every day.
“That kind of steady commuter traffic creates recurring, daily demand for coffee, breakfast, snacks and convenient meals. This opening has been in the works since 2020, and we’re proud to finally welcome guests. Beyond the café itself, the morning and evening rush gives Second Cup strong brand visibility with thousands of commuters every day, which supports our broader push into high-traffic, transit-focused locations,” he said.
Looking at traffic patterns
Di Raddo said the company looked at how commuters move through the station across the whole day:
- Morning: commuters looking for coffee, tea and a quick breakfast before their train.
- Midday: guests looking for sandwiches, snacks and refreshments.
- Afternoon and evening: returning commuters who want a coffee or something convenient to take home.
“Commuters value convenience and tend to build daily routines, which makes a transit café a natural fit for repeat visits,” he said.
Operational differences
Di Raddo said operations for this location follows the train schedule.
“Opening hours are set to serve early-morning commuters and evening travellers, and staffing levels match the peak periods around train arrivals and departures. Guests still get the full Second Cup menu, with a strong focus on speed of service so they never have to choose between their coffee and their train. It’s the complete Second Cup experience, from a Canadian brand with more than 50 years of history, built for people on the go,” he said.
The franchise operators
Di Raddo said the franchise owners are Oakville residents, so this location is personal for them.
“They saw the GO Station as a chance to bring a familiar Canadian coffee brand to their own community. Over 18 years with Second Cup, they’ve learned what it takes to succeed: understanding what guests expect, leading and developing their team, consistently maintaining Second Cup’s standards, and building lasting relationships with customers and the community,” he said.
The role of transit hubs
Di Raddo said transit hubs are a key part of the company’s growth.
“Metrolinx has been a strong partner and values having a Canadian brand like Second Cup in its stations. Together we’ve already opened successful cafés at Union Station Bus Terminal, Kipling and Bramalea, and we’re in active discussions with Metrolinx’s development team about more opportunities across the network. Second Cup currently has more than 170 cafés, with many more in the pipeline for 2027,” he said.
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