After the success of its Chinatown pop-up, Lukes General Store has now found a permanent location and is preparing to relaunch as Canada's first-ever Four Barrel Coffee retailer.
The Calgary-based lifestyle purveyor will be reopening with an expanded product line and much larger café space along the West Hastings corridor, between Abbott and Carrall.
The Vancouver general store is an offshoot of the family-owned and operated Lukes Drug Mart, which has been based in the community of Bridgeland in Calgary since 1951. With several locations throughout Alberta, Lukes is known for carrying hand-selected products that are unexpected in a traditional drug store environment, such as vinyl records, high-end apothecary, and gourmet coffee.
The store has also made name for itself by hosting events and free concerts with artists like Shad, Rural Alberta Advantage, and Ladyhawk. With Aaron Schubert setting up the Vancouver location, the city can expect similar music and arts events to hit Hastings Street. (Schubert has deep ties to the local music scene as manager of the Pack A.D., as well as booking for venues such as the Biltmore Cabaret and Rickshaw Theatre.)
Lukes General Store owner Gareth Lukes (right) at the grand opening of his pop-up in Space Lab Feb. 13. The pop-up is now closed, and will reopen as a permanent retail location and café at 49 W. Hastings. Kelsey Klassen photo
For the new location, dry goods manager Veronika Rezucha (formerly of Lark on Main) will be bringing in lines such as Mast Brothers Chocolate, Malin + Goetz Apothecary, Baxter of California Shaving, Juniper Ridge, Pendleton Woolen Mills, and McClure's Pickles, and the vinyl section will be managed by Shaun Cowan (formerly of Scratch Records). The Vancouver Lukes will also be offering two exclusive artisanal products: Cartems donuts, and for the first time in Canada, San Francisco's popular Four Barrel Coffee.
“We're really excited to be the first café in Canada exclusively serving Four Barrel Coffee," says Rezucha, "Four Barrel [is] exclusively direct trade, meaning that they work closely with all of the farmers that grow all their beans. This, and the quality of their coffee are just two of the reasons that we are partnering with them."
Started in 2009, Four Barrel has quickly become one of the top roasters in the competitive Bay Area coffee scene, and is the coffee of choice at Tartine Bakery and Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco.
The addition of Cartems to the menu also has a special significance, as the now-famous Vancouver donuts will be back on the block where they began.
"Cartems has been making beautiful, and delicious donuts since they first opened a shop on West Hastings," says Lukes owner Gareth Lukes. "They source sustainable ingredients grown as close to home as possible, while also using organic ingredients whenever available. We couldn’t be happier to be bringing Cartems Donuts back to the neighbourhood."
Lukes General Store is set to open at 49 W. Hastings in early- to mid-September.
