BJORNBAR
Bringing an iconic North Vancouver
bakery to Burquitlam.
BjornBar Bakery’s second location is in one of Burquitlam’s newest buildings at Clarke Road and Como Lake Boulevard in Coquitlam. We worked with BjornBar in 2016 to create their original location in North Vancouver’s Edgemont Village.
Over the past five years, the boutique bakery has made waves in the Vancouver foodie scene. They are well known for their delicious pastries, gourmet dessert bars, award-winning hot chocolate, and ganookies (a ganache inside a cookie, what’s not to like?)
In 2021, the owner decided it was time to expand and worked with Mercury to bring BjornBar’s delicious treats to Burquitlam.
A Taste of Europe in Burquitlam.
Aside from the quality eats, the original location is known for its warm and welcoming environment. Few experiences on the North Shore are more inviting than enjoying a pastry and hot drink next to the fireplace while surrounded by the Norwegian-style ambiance. Our goal at the Burquitlam location was to recreate the same hospitable vibe.
In contrast to the original location, BjornBar Burquitlam features high ceilings like a hotel lobby. The high ceilings created a unique challenge as large open spaces often feel cold and empty. We worked with the designer—Rodrigo Munguia of Trim Studio—to create a space that embraces the high ceilings and open window layout. The rustic finishing details and hand-written menus displayed on long brown scrolls of parchment paper complement the classically Vancouver architecture to create a modern take on a Norwegian bakery.
For those looking for the more intimate feeling of the Edgemont location, head to the back of the new shop. Here you will find a familiar sight—comfortable sofas next to a warm fireplace. The unique layout of this location resulted in a space in the back with lower ceilings. This turned out to be a perfect place to recreate a similar cozy and intimate space as the original bakery.
Some of the key designs from the original location that we maintained at the second location include the herringbone-patterned tile flooring and matching white tiles on the wall behind the serving counters. When working with Tamara—the owner and head pastry chef—we understood how important it was for both bakeries to share a common design language. Having worked together on the first location, it was a great experience to bring the team back together to turn the next step in her amazingly successful business into reality.
At Mercury Contracting, we take pride in the strong relationships we build with our clients. We like to keep in touch with our clients after our projects are finished and love to watch their businesses grow.
We considered it an honour that Tamara asked us to help her open her second location and are proud of the end result.
If you are in the Burquitlam area and looking for some great coffee, baked goods or just a place to sit down and hang out, be sure to check out BjornBar!
