What's the buzz? Toronto brewery looks for coffee partner to perk up eatery as more owners join forces amid dining slump

They're among the most widely consumed beverages in the world. A lifeline for a tired soul. A mellowed buzz. The recipe for bringing people together. Liquid joy. Coffee and craft beer share more similarities than you think, said Dave Watson, co founder of Eastbound Brewing Co., a brewpub and restaurant in Toronto's Riverside neighbourhood.

"Coffee, for many folks, might be one thing: this bitter black liquid that delivers caffeine," he said." But there's so much more of a world out there to explore a flavour." Craft beer, Watson argues, is the same, with options ranging from India pale ales to wheat ales and sours.

He says they also attract a similar clientele, which is why he's seeking a coffee shop to share Eastbound's store front at Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue, with the cafe operating in the first half of the day and the brewery in the second. There are monetary perks to having a business partner use the space, such as being able to split part of the rent.

But a more important reason for the move, Watson said, is to fill seats and become more of a destination in the neighbourhood. "We're willing to share a space with the right coffee shop partner to make that happen." The concept of merging two businesses under one roof is growing among local, smaller establishments as they .

An increase in off premise dining has left restaurant owners with more seating than required, , said Kelly Higginson, president and chief executive of Restaurants Canada, the industry's biggest lobby group. About 25 per cent of restaurants wished they had fewer seats, with half wanting to reduce seating capacity by 30 per cent, according to a 2023 survey by Restaurants Canada.

Of the larger operators with 200 seats or more, 43 per cent wished they had fewer seats. "It's harder to create an atmosphere when you have less diners in a space, so it's really useful for operators to be able to maximize their space, primarily for cost perspective," she said. Installing a cafe will let Eastbound maximize its 3,500 square feet of space in the morning when the pub is quiet.

The two vessel brewhouse includes five fermentation tanks and six serving tanks that feed the taps at the bar. There are enough table and chairs to seat 80, an open concept farm to table kitchen and a retail space with merchandise and snacks. The brewery is open for lunch or brunch on weekends and daily dinner and bar service.

It also sells beer off site to LCBOs, bars and restaurants. "It's a lot of components for a business that we're trying to run, but we don't actually make use of this space in the mornings," Watson said. And 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. are prime hours for an early pick me up. The coffee shop addition will capitalize on the influx of people who started working from home during the pandemic and the growth in nearby condo developments, said head chef Tara Lee.

"It's a place closer to home for them to pop into in the morning for coffee and later for something to eat. That all around experience will complement what we already do," she said. Watson said community is at the heart of its beer — and, soon, coffee. The brewery, which opened in 2017, hosts a running club, live music, trivia, paint sessions, and, soon, a Dungeons and Dragons night.

"We have this big, beautiful space. We'd love to use it for whatever we can to develop our roots in the community," Watson said. He said a handful of local bars and restaurants in Riverside didn't survive the pandemic, but through it all, residents continued to throw their support behind grassroots initiatives.

"Everyone comes together for the right idea, business, or event," he said. "We lost a lot of that through COVID, and for the first time, we feel like there might be the right environment to get that back up and running." While not new, companies sharing space proved a creative way to survive through pandemic lockdowns and the lingering in person dining slump.

Last Spring, Maha's Egyptian restaurant opened a cafe in Leslieville that shares space with Kotn clothing store. In February 2021, Halcyon Cafe partnered with Bello Pizza to serve coffee, wine and pizza under one roof in Bloor West Village with the cafe open throughout the week and gourmet pizzas sold in the afternoon and evenings Wednesday to Sunday.

In Hamilton, the co owners of Odds Bar, who double as members of the rock band the Arkells, recently took to social media seeking food entrepreneurs to partner with them. "Do you have a side hustle," asked lead singer Max Kerman on TikTok. "If you need kitchen space or a front of house spot, we want to make sure that Odds is getting used every hour of the day." Data from Restaurants Canada shows 53 per cent of food service operators are operating at a loss or barely breaking even, a dramatic rise from 10 per cent before the pandemic.

Cost cutting aside, having two businesses in one place helps to keep communities vibrant, said Restaurant Canada's Higginson. "The more boarded up store fronts or less activity on main streets, the more you see things like an increase in crime that will start to bring down the level of vibrancy in a community." With the Riverside community expanding and a lack of service spots, the kind of partnership Eastbound is proposing makes sense, Watson said.

Newer developments such as , a collection of residential midrise towers with more than 900 units, are expected to draw more crowds to the local brewery. "Any small business relies on foot traffic, and when you don't have that density, it's really tough to make a go of it," Watson said.

So, what's in it for the lucky coffee connoisseur? A low commitment lease with an option to expand. Low start up costs with no major renovations needed. And, among other things, utilities, licensing, and insurance are already paid for. Don't get too excited, though. Since taking to last week to share the appeal for a potential partner, Watson's post has garnered hundreds of reactions and received several inquiries.

"I'm terrible at social media, to begin with. This is by far the best social media post I've ever done," he joked. As of early this week, Watson had narrowed the list of contenders to five. He anticipates a long process to ensure his team finds the right fit. "It's almost like dating," he said of getting into business with someone.

"It's going to take quite a few folks to chat with, interview and ensure we have the right branding and setup." Longtime Beach resident Kelly Ronan said the Eastbound collaboration will be a boon for transit riders like herself who pass through Queen and Broadview daily. For a long time, the 54 year old would get stuck waiting at the intersection because of TTC detours.

There were lengthy wait times, especially in the early hours. "Gosh," Ronan recalls thinking, "I wish there were a good coffee shop here." She's excited to see the idea come to life. "I'm a customer of theirs. And I also have some favourite coffee shops in my own area, so I'd love it for one of those to show up in the Riverside neighbourhood.".