A Toronto coffee shop that exemplified the trendy minimalist aesthetic is officially calling it quits.
There had been whispers about the impending closure of Dundas West’s Hamers Coffee for weeks before the specialty coffee shop’s owner, Derek, took to Instagram in mid-June to confirm the rumours.
Opening its doors in early 2020, the cafe’s ability to stick around despite opening at perhaps the worst possible time for a new business in the last decade is a testament to just how quickly Hamers became a cherished part of the neighbourhood.
With a sleek, minimal interior and small-but-mighty menu, which included some truly to-die-for sandwiches, Hamers has become a cornerstone of Dundas West over its five years in business — no small feat in a neighbourhood renowned for its never-ending influx of buzzy businesses.
Hamers’ reign in the neighbourhood is soon to come to a close, though, as the team prepares to close it down for good after its final service on Sunday, July 13.
“You may be wondering how I’m feeling about all this?” Derek writes in the caption of an Instagram post that confirms the closure. “The long/short of it is, I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to play out a 5 year goal. Not all of us get to ‘shoot our shot’ and I’m forever grateful to those who gave me the chance to do it. It’s been an incredible gift to have met and worked with so many people who, for over a decade, continue to be a source of inspiration and friendship.”
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, because there’s already another business lined up to move into the soon-to-be-vacant Hamers space, and it’s sure to carry the mantle of being a Dundas West Coffee staple.
Baldwin Village’s Carbonic Coffee has officially swooped in to take over, taking to their Instagram account days before Hamers’ last service to announce the good news.
It’s always sad to lose a cherished local spot, but Carbonic makes a more than worthy alternative to Hamers.
Proudly boasting a similarly clean, minimalistic aesthetic and a commitment to specialty coffees, Carbonic Coffee has been a staple in its neighbourhood since 2019, on top of being a close contemporary of Hamers’ since it opened in 2020.
“Hamers has been a neighbourhood staple for its vision, quality, and community,” the Carbonic team writes in the caption of the Instagram post announcing their takeover. “We’re grateful to carry that forward and brew what’s next.”
Rumour has it, according to Carbonic’s post, the “what’s next” in question has something to do with music, but you’ll just have to stay tuned to see how it all comes into fruition. As the Carbonic team itself says, “Coffee’s just the start.”
On the bright side, you’ve still got a little bit of time to swing by Hamers for one more cup of joe and a tasty treat to say goodbye, but you can rest assured that the Dundas West cafe is in more than capable hands.
Hamers Coffee is located at 870 Dundas St. W.
