One of Vancouver's most popular independent cafés has fans delighted after the owners shared the news online Tuesday (April 15) they got the keys to what will be their second location.
Cowdog got its start as a pop-up concept operating out of Mount Pleasant's Dear Gus wine bar on select mornings. Last summer, Cowdog shifted operations to its own brick-and-mortar, a tiny space on Oak Street with limited seating and a chronic line out the door.
Joe Lee co-owns Cowdog with his partner, Ryan Leenstra, and has been hinting on his popular TikTok account that Cowdog was on the hunt for a new location.
He's also been candid online about the operations side of the business, often posting videos breaking down revenue and replying to questions and feedback from guests, including why the Oak Street coffee and matcha hot spot doesn't have a bathroom (it's so small, it's not permitted by Vancouver Coastal Health).
Now Lee says the plan is to open the second Cowdog in 30 days.
The second Cowdog is located at 1927 W 4th Ave in the former Freshii space. In his "Day One" video, Lee explains they are beginning by taking down all the white shiplap on the walls, with plans to remove the salad franchise's white subway tile.
And, yes: the Kits location of Cowdog will have a washroom for customers.
The wildly popular coffee biz is known not just for its meticulously made beverages but also for its no tipping policy (balanced by a living wage for its employees) and its pricing, specifically that they do not impose an additional charge for customers who wish to have non-dairy milk.
The small café menu includes coffee and matcha drinks, including seasonal and limited-run specials. They're well-known for their Strawberry Matcha, with a house-made base of roasted strawberry puree and their own line of Dew matcha powder.
Follow @cowdog.coffee on Instagram and @cowdog.coffee on TikTok (and co-owner Joe Lee on TikTok) for more updates.
Video: Checking out Cowdog, the Vancouver café known for its matcha drinks
@forkingawesomevia Finally made it to Cowdog’s new permanent cafe space on Oak! The drinks were fantastic, and I love that they pay a living wage so there’s no tipping. Plus, you can swap dairy for oat milk at no extra charge. 🐮🐶🍵@cowdog #forkingawesome #vancouverbc ♬ Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac
🍽 Find more delicious Metro Vancouver food and drink video stories by following V.I.A's Forking Awesome on TikTok and Instagram, and signing up for our Forking Awesome newsletter 📬 delivered fresh to your inbox every Thursday.
