Kafe, a Los Angeles-based “brew and collab” coffee shop concept centered around coffee, culture, and creative partnerships, is getting ready to open a new location in Toronto at 1024 Queen St. W.
The company’s second location, called Kafe 002, is expected to open around mid-June 2026, according to BlogTO. The Toronto cafe will partner with Frano Pizza & Panini, a Mount Albert-based food business, with both concepts operating in a single integrated space rather than as separate businesses sharing a location. While the original Los Angeles cafe has not opened yet, Kafe says customers can expect specialty coffee, pizza, panini, pastries, and wine at the Queen Street West location.
Kafe was created by co-founder Bill Germanis and partner Amir Bayat, a Q grader specializing in coffee evaluation and sourcing. The company describes itself as a concept focused on collaboration, culture, and creative expression, with each location developed around partnerships with artists, businesses, and local creatives. Germanis told BlogTO that Toronto was a natural fit for expansion, considering he was born and raised in the city.
The first location, Kafe 001, is currently preparing to open in West Hollywood in late spring 2026. That location was developed in partnership with Broskin Studio, a multidisciplinary creative company involved in signage, cup design, and a collaborative beverage offering. Kafe plans to approach future locations similarly, with each cafe featuring its own identity tied to local collaborators and creative direction.
The Toronto space will feature a black-and-white interior inspired by classic cinema, helping to distinguish the concept from traditional coffee shop designs. In addition to food and beverages, Kafe plans to incorporate installations, printed materials, merchandise, storytelling elements, and curated events into the customer experience.
According to the company, future expansion decisions will focus less on market size and more on relationships, partnerships, and alignment with the brand’s overall vision. This will be the company’s first Canadian location and one of its earliest openings overall as Kafe begins building its multi-city concept.
