The wait is officially over for the most anticipated coffee opening of the year.
After a week of speculation, % Arabica has finally (yes actually) opened its doors at CF Richmond Centre.
There was no grand announcement or red carpet.
Thanks to a tip from a Noms Magazine community member (wenny.lai), we confirmed that the shop quietly started serving customers today at 10 AM.
This marks the global Japanese coffee brand’s very first permanent storefront in Metro Vancouver.
They have secured one of the high-traffic spots in the mall, taking over the unit previously occupied by Starbucks near the Dining Terrace.
We stopped by immediately to check out the space, and it is a massive aesthetic departure from the previous tenant.
True to the brand’s minimalist philosophy, the design feels almost like a futuristic cave.
The storefront features curved grey concrete walls that wrap around the bar, warm wood slat shelving, and the iconic glowing “%” logo set into the architecture.
It stands out sharply against the typical mall retail backdrop.
Unlike their Whistler Village outpost, this location is designed specifically for speed and mall traffic.
That means no seating whatsoever.
However, if you are looking for food, you will have to wait.
While the drinks menu mirrors their other international locations, there are currently no pastries or baguette sandwiches available.
We ordered the signature Kyoto Latte and the Matcha Latte, and the quality lives up to the global hype.
The shop will be operating during standard mall hours.
Currently, the lines are manageable because the news hasn’t fully spread yet.
However, given the cult following this brand has, you should expect significant crowds once the weekend hits.
% Arabica joins a wave of new food upgrades at the mall, including the recently opened O Bistro Tianjin on Alexandra Road.
Address: CF Richmond Centre (Old Starbucks unit near Food Court), Richmond BC