Thursday, 22 January 2015

Sam James Coffee Bar - 297 Harbord Street Toronto “HARBORD SHOP”




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: 
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




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