A new café, Café 1517, has opened in Brantford’s north end, offering coffee, pastries, and a welcoming space for visitors. Located alongside Reformed Book Services, a Christian bookstore, the café has been serving the community since fall 2024.
Café 1517 offers a variety of drinks from the Brazilian Canadian Coffee Company, soups from Burnt Tongue, and baked goods from the Tiny Shop Bakery. The café was born out of a desire to create a space for people visiting the bookstore to relax and enjoy a beverage. Jennifer de Blieck, manager of Reformed Book Services, shared, “Bookstores and cafés go together really well, kind of like Indigo.”
The café’s name, “1517,” is a nod to the year the Protestant Reformation began. Although the bookstore’s mission includes distributing Puritan and Reformed literature, de Blieck emphasized that the café is open to everyone, regardless of their connection to the bookstore or religious background. “It’s meant to serve the community,” she said. “We want to be a place where people feel safe and welcome, and that they feel the warmth and energy of what we’re doing here.”
Café 1517 offers both to-go and dine-in options, with seating available, including a study area in the back. The café plans to expand its offerings, with future events such as craft nights and trivia nights.
Bianca Kleinjan, the café supervisor, has been with the project since its early stages and officially joined as supervisor in August. She shared her excitement about seeing the café come to life after months of planning and renovations. “To see it fully turn into a café, and then for people to come in and enjoy it, has been really exciting,” she said.
The café has already built a loyal following, with regulars and new faces coming in. Kleinjan also noted how Brantford residents are eager to support local businesses. “There’s just Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and Williams in this area, and it surprised me that there’s nothing else here. But people in Brantford really support other Brantford businesses, and we’ve found that to be true,” she said.
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