Since our inception 30 years ago, JJ Bean has opened a total of 34 locations (currently there are 25 in operation). A few of the older locations have been renovated several times, but most of these 34 locations were totally new builds.
JJ Uptown
Many of our competitors find a design they like and reproduce it. At JJ Bean, one of our core beliefs is to create amazing, custom spaces that fit and embody the neighbourhoods they serve. The team that creates these spaces with us is made up of a gifted General Contractor (GC) and a Designer who really ‘get’ who we are and are willing to create something very special with us.
JJ Lonsdale
Of the 34 cafés that we have built, Pat Graf built two (Main and Commercial), and Dallas Matson (now with Tetherstone Construction) built two (Granville Island and Park & Tilford).
Neto Franco built the other 30, with 1 more in the works. Neto worked with us from 2007-2015, and for the first 7 years he ran the retail operations while also building our stores. Since 2015 Neto went out on his own, leading Encore Projects, but continues to build all the JJ Bean stores.
JJ Cambie
Neto is a passionate Brazilian who always wants to make things "right." His ability, which marries our needs of design and practicality with his building knowledge, has been one of the keys to our success.
From an interior design perspective, Wendy Ray Interior Design did one location (Powell), Sophie Burke Design did two locations (MacKenzie and Burnaby Heights).
JJ Burnaby Heights
Brady Dunlop of Dialog Design oversaw the design of 20 cafés including the award-winning Marine Building and UBC locations. Most designers use several accents to highlight their design, but Brady always found a way to mold the architecture into the design itself. His desire to utilize designer light fixtures and furniture (rather than knockoffs) always led to a colourful discussion between Brady, Neto and myself...which Brady won most of the time. Brady always called Neto his ‘wee little man’ which was curious given Brady’s height. I have lots of fond memories between the three of us. I'll always be grateful to Brady for his passion for our brand and his dedication to design.
JJ Marine Building
Since 2021, my daughter, Niki Schulz (Nicole Maree Design) has designed 7 stores with 1 more on the go. She has added a feminine touch to Brady’s style, which has taken our cafés into a new chapter that customers have really connected with. I’m a proud father to have Niki’s talents showcased in our stores.
Niki Schulz
As with Coffee, Service, and Food, Spaces is another one of the pillars of our philosophy–how we honour the people we serve.
–John Neate, Jr. (JJ)