To borrow a line from an Arkells song: "It's been years in the making."
The swanky urban park at Smithe and Richards in Yaletown with a budget of over $13 million broke ground over two years ago and was in the planning stages for years prior, finally opening to the public on April 29.
Vancouver's own Kafka's Coffee is partnering up with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to operate the cafe space at the Smithe-Richards park.
Kafka's in the Park is located at the southwest entrance to the park and was designed to blend into the space with a folding window that will be opened up to the plaza area on sunny days.
Inside, guests will find Kafka's locally-roasted coffees along with house-made sandwiches and pastries. It will be the only Kafka's location to offer soft-serve ice cream.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kafka’s on board to run the café in our new park,” explains Octavio Silva, Manager of Business Development at the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation in a media release. “Kafka’s is a Vancouver-bred success story, aligned with the values of the Park Board and our mission to create community hubs. We couldn’t be happier to co-create this fresh new space and work together to foster neighbourhood connection in the downtown core.”
The park was designed to be an inviting space for anyone working, living, or playing in the area, and boasts dynamic walkways and seating areas, a children's playground, and lots of landscaping.
With an opening date now set for Saturday, June 4, Kafka's at the Park will offer another reason to enjoy a visit to this exciting new urban greenspace.
Kafka’s in the Park will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This story was originally published on March 17, 2022, and has since been updated.
