Groundswell Grassroots Economic Alternatives

More like a solid 3.5.
I like the concept, the aesthetics, the vibe and the made-​to-​order sandwiches. I work on the same block and its a nice place to catch my breath, without the über-​gentrificator vibe of a lot of the new places around.
However, the two times I had a pre-​made sandwich it was very dry. I am also not a fan of the teas they have; I believe the price is a wee bit steep for stash/​Liptons. But hey, I get that they aren’t making big bucks and that café is not their sole purpose. I do feel that if they could take their food up a notch, without going into the pretentious zone, the place would then be bang on!

A friend works at roundhouse radio and suggested this place to meet. Always one to try out new places, I was happy to find myself in an independent, casual coffee shop unlike most of the chain shops in the city.
I ordered a pre-​made sandwich and it was chicken of some sort and it was fantastic! It had some kind of pesto on it that was delicious. I should take notes so I have better info to share.
Enjoyed the coffee and heard they got their liquor licence and will start hosting music nights in the future.
3 cheers for live music.
However I emailed them on facebook a few days ago and haven’t heard back — I want to do an event there! Hopefully they will respond soon! !

Great place for a coffee and some laptop time. The smoked chicken sandwich is highly recommended. I’ve been coming here for two months and really like the atmosphere here.

Groundswell is a grassroots enterprise intended to teach students alternative economic business models. The Groundswell team recently launched a Café + Event Space, which opened at the end of February 2015 and had a grand opening on March 13.
The location is spacious and well-​lit with large windows in the front and a skylight in the back. There is a large counter bar that serves Bows & Arrows Coffee, tea, sandwiches and other meals. I haven’t had a meal here yet, but the «build your own sandwich» menu looked good.
The atmosphere is homey, with natural wood giving a warm and down-​to-​earth vibe and exposed brick walls. There are four big comfy couches clustered against one wall, just waiting to be lounged on.
They also rent out the space for events! This would be an amazing space to host an art reception, or a book reading, or even just a private party. They can offer catering and a bartender for liquor sales.
Accessibility: everything is on 1 floor, there are 2 gender neutral washrooms but they aren’t large enough for a wheelchair.