![]() ![]() A wide range of vibrant plants, like fiddle-leaf figs and peace lilies, populate the space, juxtaposing natural abundance with minimalist floor-to-ceiling concrete. Stepping into the greenery of Garden Strathcona eases the body into a state of calm. Here are four that hit that hybrid sweet spot. Increasingly, other cafes are popping up that also do more than just sell coffee. ![]() This seamless integration of a cafe, grocery store, and community event space, is what makes a hybrid establishment so compelling. “The garden allows it all to come together as this beautiful space where people can spend some time,” Iranzad says. ![]() Now with a cheerful orange exterior, Oh Carolina features outdoor seating and a collection of planters, perfect for impromptu gatherings or convivial Sunday fetes, like a recent “Sausage and Rosé” event. The shelves and freezer are stocked with specialty items ranging from pork belly dumplings from the Dumpling King to Bret’s camembert chips from France. The café side sells pastries, like pain au chocolat, as well as light meals, such as pastrami sandwiches with sauerkraut. The result was the launch in June of Oh Carolina, which melds the aesthetic of a retro café, complete with a Coca Cola letterboard menu, with that of an artisanal corner grocery store. We thought the same thing, and wished it would come to life,” he says. “It’s so funny that you say that because, literally, a couple dozen people have said that to me now. When I chat with James Iranzad, partner at Gooseneck Hospitality, to find out why he was drawn to the former Charles Grocery, I can’t resist telling him my own dreams for the location. And while it’s easy for them to devolve into a hodgepodge, done right they make the most of a small space with a coherent concept. I particularly love hybrid cafes because they encompass one stop shopping, eating, and drinking-often in a pretty, pleasant environment. The little grocery store was going to be reborn. When I heard that Gooseneck Hospitality had taken over the former Charles Grocery to open a hybrid cafe, I was ecstatic. Instead, as I drove on, I would imagine it as a lovely space where I could pick up some fresh produce, buy a bouquet of wild flowers on a whim, or catch up with a dear friend over a cup of coffee and a croissant. Though it seemed lonely, its nondescript shabbiness kept me from stopping my car and actually taking a look inside. At least once a week, I used to drive by a wee grocery store and café on the corner of East 12th and Carolina Street. ![]()
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