Over the subsequent years we continued to grow and our community grew with us, providing us tremendous support and the drive to keep delivering great coffee and food experiences. Despite a few setbacks and a couple of very challenging years during the Covid pandemic, we once again reached a point where we’d outgrown our space. In 2023, our tenth year of operation, more good luck befell us when our neighbour, Frank Vaiana, the East End’s legendary barber, decided to retire after more than six decades’ trade. We took the opportunity to expand a second time, which doubled the footprint of our original store. Knowing that this would be our last opportunity to expand at this site, we worked with Hosking Design to create a beautiful, warm, light-filled space that would stand the test of time. Our store was rebuilt from scratch, again, and in so doing we dramatically transformed it, yet retained a sense of familiarity for our community.

We’re proud of the inclusive culture of our business and team members. We strive for values that allow us to build genuine, longterm relationships with our team, customers and community. Since we opened in 2013 with just four employees, our team has now grown to more than 20 warm, personable and enthusiastic people. We will always work to ensure that the work environment at Exchange is inclusive and that our team is happy and supported.

The community that has grown around our store and supported us for many years is wholly unique and immensely special. We’re proud that our venue has seen people meet, forge relationships, raise children, start businesses, write books and so much more. For all this we feel very grateful.