Several years in the making, a planned new multi-site development in Coquitlam is getting closer to reality with the impending debut of its community and sales hub "Pavilion" that will feature two new locations (including a new concept) from two acclaimed Vancouver food spots.
TriCity Pavilion, located at 2968 Christmas Way in Coquitlam, will offer a "living preview" of its forthcoming TriCity Central development by way of a 12,000-square-foot space that includes its sales centre along with two dining destinations, both making their Tri-Cities debut.
Hot on the heels of this year's launch in Surrey Central, and with its acclaimed coffee and pastry programs, Nemesis is ready for a fifth location in an impressive 2,300-square-foot space at TriCity Pavilion.
Guests can expect top-notch coffee beverages, a warm and hospitable space, phenom baked goods from its Dope Bakehouse brand, and brunch fare. Nemesis TriCity will have 50 seats and an on-site pastry kitchen to ensure fresh goodies, and it will be the second in the local empire to feature cocktails.
"We’re excited to continue our pursuit of ‘coffee creating culture’ in the Tri-Cities," said Nemesis founder and CEO Jess Reno in a media release.
Nemesis has set Saturday, June 14 as its soft launch date.
The brand recently announced that later this summer it will debut its first off-shoot standalone branch of its Dope Bakehouse with a café location in North Vancouver.
Meanwhile, in Coquitlam at the new TriCity Pavilion, Nemesis is stocking its display case with tiramisu croissants, frosted and sugar dusted banana bread, and a location-exclusive matcha canelé alongside its brunch staples like the mortdella breakfast sandwich on a supreme croissant and avocado toast.
Along with Nemesis drip and espresso coffee beverages they'll have some specialty items, like ube matcha lattes and more.
Michelin Guide-endorsed Ask For Luigi launches sibling concept, Gigi's
Joining Nemesis will be a new offshoot concept from Vancouver's Kitchen Table Group and its ever-expanding "Luigi" family of Italian restaurants and cafés. Called Gigi's by Ask For Luigi, diners will find fresh pasta, pizza, cocktails, and Italian wine on a menu created by Culinary Director Chanthy Yen and Head Chef Lloyd Taganahan.
"Gigi" is a nickname derived from Luigi and reflects further growth for the Ask For Luigi mantle, which includes its two Vancouver market-restaurant hybrids, Mercato di Luigi (with its casual cafe inside a store concept) and Chinatown's newer Cantina di Luigi (the "hidden" restaurant by night with the daytime coffee shop out front).
Luigi was KT co-founder Nick Rossi's grandfather. The new Gigi's is another page in the restaurant group's ongoing "love letter" to him and the Italian tradition of coming together over good food and wine.
“With Gigi by Ask For Luigi’s, we’re bringing the same heart and hospitality that our Vancouver restaurants are known for to the Tri-Cities,” said Jennifer Rossi, Co-Founder of Kitchen Table Group.
On the menu are Italian classics with a west coast feel, like squid ink pasta with fresh seafood and uni butter, housemade pizzas, and a burrata bar showcasing the soft, creamy cheese flown in from Italy.
Gigi's by Ask For Luigi will open on June 24.
The KT team are also working on a companion concept in the TriCity Pavilion space, Bar Lucia, which will debut later this year.
TriCity Central is a Marcon Quadreal Lands project at the southeastern corner of the Lougheed and Barnet highways on assembled properties that had previously been a dealership and an industrial area. Over several years, the development will see several towers go up with condos, rental units, a hotel and conference centre, a half-million square feet of retail area, office space, and a childcare centre.
Watch: A little preview of Gigi's by Ask For Luigi and Nemesis in Coquitlam
@forkingawesomevia Two well-loved Vancouver food and drink brands have expanded to Coquitlam—Gigi’s by Ask For Luigi and Nemesis Coffee—sharing a thoughtfully designed space called TriCity Pavilion in the heart of a major new development. Gigi’s is a sibling of the Michelin Guide-recognized Ask For Luigi, offering a West Coast take on traditional Italian fare. The menu includes housemade pizza and pasta, share plates, and a dedicated burrata bar. I tried some fresh burrata (imported from Italy), a refreshing tuna crudo with orange and fennel, a creamy arugula salad, and a delicious and al dente squid ink pasta with uni butter and fresh seafood. On the other side of the room is Nemesis, the local coffee roaster known for its eye-catching Dope Bakehouse treats and standout breakfast dishes. I grabbed their iced ube matcha latte and sampled some sweet offerings, including the iced banana bread and a matcha canelé that’s exclusive to this location. The space itself is just over 2,000 square feet, full of natural light, and will soon also be home to Bar Lucia, a new concept from the Gigi’s team, plus a rooftop wine bar. Nemesis soft opens on June 14, with Gigi’s following on June 24. #forkingawesome #coquitlam #metrovancouver ♬ The Theme From "Black Orpheus" - Paul Desmond
This article was originally published on April 24, 2025 and has been updated
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