Modern Coffee with a retro look

North End

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/02/2023 (1018 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I first walked into the Modern Coffee shop on the northeast corner of Inkster Boulevard at Main Street, I felt like I was walking into a coffee house of days long gone. I was invited there by Gary and Bev (a.k.a. Woody’s Choice) to read some of my poetry at their open mic night. I sat down at a round retro table with my sister and her daughter after ordering a chai tea. Others were seated at similar tables and a few ’50s style couches and chairs. The room was packed and buzzing with excitement.

The first performer soon took the small stage sharing funny stories about his time in LA. He was followed by a few singer-songwriters, after which I shared a few poems. Then a few more songs were sung. Bev opened her suitcase full of musical instruments and encouraged the audience members to play along. All of a sudden, the whole room became the backing band, including a darling young girl who kept time with an apple shaker.

At times it felt more like I was in a friend’s rec room with photos of North End landmarks and signs from Kelekis and Paulins Chambers Foods, where I worked as a jellybean maker years ago. The decor also included lights from the old Shanghai restaurant on Princess Street. Owner Allison Slessor and her husband Mike Wolchock, who used to operate the Neon Factory on Main Street, are both antique and retro collectors and when Alison decided to open a coffee shop, they both pulled out some of their collectibles to furnish the location, which used to be a hair salon. One day, when Alison was riding her bicycle, she got a flat tire, which she repaired right in front of the now-closed hair salon. The space was for rent, she inquired and on that day the seed for Modern Coffee was planted.

This was only the second open mic hosted by Gary and Bev. In the past, Modern Coffee, which opened in Dec. 2018, featured live music on Wednesday evenings, then moved to Fridays. In 2019, they even took part in Nuit Blanche activities as Nuit North with a school bus parked outside.

Both Alison and Mike are true North Enders and live in the area. Both worked at Pollock Hardware Co-Op down the block, where Mike was the manager.

As with any new business, the first year is usually the hardest. Modern’s second full year was a tough one, given the COVID-19 pandemic. However, regulars helped them survive by picking up their morning coffee at Modern’s makeshift pickup window.

Now back to being open regularly, Modern offers a wide variety of coffees and teas as well as pastries and cookies. Alison loves supporting local businesses for her stock, such as Gunn’s Bakery, Black Pearl, Tall Grass Prairie, Amsterdam Tea Room, and DeLuca’s. Alison said that she is hoping to add soups and sandwiches to the menu soon.

Modern Coffee is located at 191 Inkster Blvd. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Open mic nights are Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. (doors open at 6 but sign up by 6:30 if you want to perform).