22-year-old opening 24/7 café in downtown Vancouver next month
Bloom Bakery and Cafe takes over the former Blenz Coffee location on Seymour and Robson, offering premium coffee and fresh pastries around the clock.
A 22-year-old is transforming a longtime downtown coffee corner into a 24/7 sanctuary for students, night workers, and anyone searching for an affordable place to belong.
Bloom Bakery and Cafe will open June 10 at 767 Seymour St.—the site of Blenz Coffee, which closed after 20-plus years. The new space will be floral-themed, designed to feel calm and welcoming at any hour.
Shayesta Azizi came up with the idea from her own frustration. As a student, she struggled to find late-night cafes that weren't packed. She'd often drive from Coquitlam to Vancouver looking for a quiet study spot, only to find nowhere to sit. "I wanted to create something beautiful," she said. "Something that brings the nature of B.C. inside a cafe."
Azizi, who immigrated to Canada from Afghanistan, took a semester off work to save money for the project. She's betting everything on an untested idea while managing her first business with no prior cafe or bakery experience.
The menu will focus on affordability with premium products: Arabica coffee, high-quality Japanese matcha, and freshly baked goods. The cafe will offer vegetarian, halal, vegan, and gluten-free options.
"What keeps me going is the opportunity to give back to the community," Azizi said. "My goal has never been to maximize profits, but to create a place where everyone can enjoy good coffee and freshly baked goods at any hour of the day without having to spend a fortune."
Bloom will offer a stark contrast to the overpriced, undersupplied late-night options downtown.