Founders Nan Eskenazi and her partner Michael Going welcomed customers to their first Good Earth Coffeehouse location in Calgary’s Connaught neighborhood in 1991 with a “mission to create an authentic coffeehouse that served good food while staying true to our values around environmental and social responsibility,” says Eskenazi. Today, the coffeehouse has 60 locations across Canada that are overseen by President and COO Gerry Docherty—though Eskenazi emphasizes that she and Going are still very much involved in the business operations.
Each individual location is owned and operated by locals of the community, with the newest storefront having opened this past March in downtown Victoria in British Columbia’s Bay Centre—it’s grand opening event was held on March 18 with a ribbon cutting event and free brewed coffee all day. “It is owned and operated by Dolores Reyes, who also owns two coffeehouses inside [two] Victoria hospitals, [one in] Royal Jubilee Hospital and [the other] opening soon in Victoria General Hospital,” Eskenazi explains. “[The Bay Centre location] has a fresh, contemporary vibe with light wood features, cane-backed chairs, lovely tile work, and plenty of natural light.”
The Good Earth menu matches the enticing vibe of the property itself, offering an array of innovative coffees and espressos alongside fresh pastries and hot breakfasts for the early birds of the morning, light lunches and dinners, and rich desserts for the evening comers.
“We are also true to our roots,” she adds. “Our commitment to the environment runs deep in our company history. We strive to make sound business decisions with our environmental impact in mind, and our coffeehouse owners work hard to support their communities in creative ways.” One such way is seen in the catering services, which are available if you’re gathering in the Victoria area and feel inclined to provide your guests with a flavorful cup of joe before an event.
“The full Good Earth menu is available for catering,” she says. “[Alongside coffee], we offer an array of food including selections for specific dietary needs like gluten-friendly, vegetarian, and others. This makes our catering especially helpful for people planning meetings and business gatherings. … Our goal is to make customers feel good about their time at Good Earth, whether they stay to enjoy indoor or patio seating, or take their purchases to go.”
