The Calgary-founded coffee shop Analog first opened its first Vancouver location just over a year ago, and it’s since become a neighbourhood staple in Yaletown. Now, the brand is looking to expand in our city.
This growth is no surprise when you consider that its Yaletown location is already one of its best-performing spots revenue-wise. At least, that’s what Ronnie Olstad, president of Ninety Eight Food Co (Analog’s parent company), told us over the phone.
Olstad assured us this wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision and that he and the team spent much time choosing the perfect neighbourhood for Analog’s latest outpost. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the actual building is cool as heck.
But Analog isn’t a new coffee chain that showed up out of the blue. The uber-popular coffee shop officially opened its first location in 2011 and operates 12 locations in Alberta and BC.
So, how did it all get started? Well, that dates back to the 70s when Cam Prefontaine started roasting beans in his garage.
Olstad said that Prefontaine eventually started to work with a couple of cafes in the area and sell to retail stores. That company has since grown into what is known as Fratello’s Coffee Roasters today.
But where does Analog fit into all of this? Well, it’s all thanks to Prefontaine’s children.
“One son created a company called Slayer, a coffee machine company, and he ended up moving to Seattle, and his company blew up,” said Olstad. “He’s since sold that company, but you’ll see Slayer espresso machines all over Canada and the US. Another one of his sons started a bakery chain called Corbeaux Bakehouse. It’s no longer around, but in its heyday, it was quite successful.”
As for the third son, he started Analog Coffee using Fratello’s beans.
The first Analog opened in Calgary in 2011 at the Calgary Farmers Market and was followed by its 17th Avenue location in 2012. The success of these two locations has led to the now twelve locations across BC and Alberta, with most of them in Calgary, one in Kelowna, and its Vancouver spot in Yaletown.
Since opening its first location, Analog has received attention from around the globe, including landing on Buzzfeed’s list of Coffee Shops Around The World You Have To See Before You Die.
Analog has always emphasized the importance of community and, of course, delicious coffee and baked goods.
The family has since sold Analog to Ninety Eight Food Co., which also owns Hula Poke, Deville Coffee, Chachi’s, and Dirtbelly. Now, the brothers are focused on Fratello Coffee Roasters, which is still based out of Calgary.
“They supply the beans that Analog still uses, so we still have a very close relationship,” said Olstad.
Branching out to Vancouver
Analog Coffee location in Yaletown (Hanna McLean/Dished)
When they first opened in Vancouver, Olstad was pleased with Analog’s warm welcome in the community. “It was so crazy to me,” said Olstad. “The clientele had never even been there, and they didn’t look up at the menu or anything, and they just ordered their beverage.”
“Normally, with a store opening, my role is to stand at the front door and go ‘Hi, welcome to Analog, let me run through the menu with you,’ and I didn’t have to do that at all at the Analog opening in Yaletown. It was so eye-opening to see just how we fit right into the community; it was almost like we’ve been there for years.”
Analog only opened its Vancouver location in 2023, but Olstad said it’s already one of its best-performing spots.
“Our number one Analog in Calgary is our 17th Avenue location, which opened in 2010,” said Olstad. “Yaletown ended up just behind it in sales in 2024, so it’ll be interesting to see if it surpasses it as our number one store in 2025.”
Future Vancouver plans
Olstad confirmed that Analog is currently preparing to open a new cafe within the city at 776 Kingsway.
“The architecture of the building is probably what stands out the most, the shape of it, and how they were creative in making it work for that block. A lot of more traditional people wouldn’t have gone for that route,” said Olstad when speaking about the space.
The building is triangular with large windows. It’s situated on the corner of Kingsway and E 17th Avenue, which was recently revitalized by Kirsten Reite Architecture. In an Instagram post, Kirsten Reite Architecture said the original building was designed in the late 1940s by architect Swinburne A. Kayll.
“We just wanted to make it like a cool little hub,” he added.
Olstad said that he can’t put an exact date for the opening of this new location, but he predicts a summer opening in either July or August of this year.
As for other Vancouver locations, Olstad said they are trying to be very intentional and slow with how they expand.
“We don’t look at it as being like [other coffee shops] where there are a dozen or more locations close to each other. We don’t want to over-saturate it. We want to keep it very neighbourhood-based and in neighbourhoods that are super cool.”
However, Olstad did shout out some of his favourite Vancouver neighbourhoods, including Mount Pleasant, Kitsilano, and, of course, Yaletown.
“Those neighbourhoods are some of the coolest in Canada. Never mind, just Vancouver,” he said.
Analog — Kingsway
Address: 776 Kingsway, Vancouver
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