Picture this: it’s a Monday, and we all know nobody likes
Mondays. They’re basically like the plague. Everyone tires to avoid them. Avoid
them the way I would avoid my mothers phone calls in high school. But this
Monday was different. This Monday I would answer my mother’s calls and tell her
the exciting news: I had an interview for my marketing internship! I was
extremely excited for it and felt very confident in my abilities. That was
until I walked out thinking that I completely bombed it.
It’s cold, the streets are crowed, and I get on the subway which
is also crowded (UGH! Rush hour) and all I kept thinking was “I need off of this
subway.” I decided to get off at Christie station. I remembered passing a Sam
James Coffee Bar the last time I was in that area. So, of course, as a
self-diagnosed caffeine addict, my solution to feeling better was obviously
coffee.
After about a 5-minute walk from the station, I arrive at my
destination. The exterior of the coffee shop is easily unrecognizable. I’m
surprised I even spotted it the first time.
Through the glass window I spotted
a wooden bench. It kind of looked like that scene in a movie where the father
is sitting and reading the newspaper while drinking his morning cup of coffee. If
you’ve ever watched TV, you know the scene I’m talking about. Being -15
degrees, the image of this coffee shop created a feeling of warmth within me.
Upon entering, I was greeted by a very gracious woman. She
was relaxed and asked me how my day was going. I told her about the interview
and how I thought I wasn’t going to get it. This conversation was happening as
she was making my hot chocolate with my double shot espresso. We continued
talking for a while more. She told me there were about 300 other Sam James
Coffee Bar locations and that
they’ve been around for about 5 years. It was nice to have a decent
conversation after feeling like I failed my interview. But the highlight of
this experience was when she offered me a free pastry of my choice, completely
on the house. I choose the chocolate almond croissant. If just the name doesn’t
make you go there and buy one yourself I don’t know what will. It was delicious.
From the rich & caramelly espresso to the creamy comfort
brought by the hot chocolate, Sam James Coffee Bar is doing it right. But I
have to say, that even though the offering of the croissant was something so
small, it made such an impact. I later found out that I got the internship.
Maybe I didn’t bomb it. Or maybe it was the free croissant? I’m going to go
with the latter.
Toronto Locations:
Toronto Locations:
SJCB - HARBORD LOCATION: 297 Harbord Street Toronto
Mon - Fri 7 - 6
Sat 8 - 5 , Sun 9 – 5
SJCB – POCKET LOCATION: 688a Bloor Street West Toronto
Mon - Fri 7 - 7
Sat - Sun 9 - 5
SJCB – PATH LOCATION:
150 King Street West Toronto
Mon - Fri 7 - 4
Closed Weekends
SJCB – OZ LOCATION: 3 Ossington Ave. Toronto
Mon - Fri 7 - 7
Sat - Sun 9 - 5
