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ACE Cafe Toronto???

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You know what place would have been perfect?.....

There used to be a genuine 50's inspired diner (more authentic than Johnny Rockets) at the corner of Bloor and (1 block west of Bay), right beside that Yorkville park and across the street from the current Harry Rosen.

That place would have been perfect with bikes strewn all about cumberland, wrapping around the corner and down that alleyway toward the Nike store! Casual but all up in those Yorkvillers' faces!

I miss that classic diner.

Used to be here ages ago:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=cumbe...ent=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&sa=N&tab=wl
 
The concept could work, and yes there is no question it will never be legitimate in UK pedigree. I did read an article last month interviewing a UK biker that was at the heart of the rocker movement and he has no idea why anybody really wants to relive those days, but thousands are keeping the faith and a lot of companies have been created to make components and complete bikes to follow the trend.

Like any bar/lounge/cafe it would need a location that's not impossible to get to, a draw to get people out, and an attraction to get them to go back.

The hospitality industry is a very fickle mistress. Great plans often end in tears.

The ice house in Campbellville is a prime example of a bike friendly place that by virtue of location has thrived. Average coffee, diner type average eats and bad seating. But gas available, 1km off the hyway and in the middle of decent riding area and bingo, successful cafe.
 
And in downtown Toronto there are two things at a definite premium; free parking and 'bike friendly.' Getting a storefront along a long stretch of pay&display parking space would take care of the first, until the city decides to change the rules again.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
awayala, the impression that I got of the Indian was an upscale place with pretensions to motorcycling, whether right or wrong. That's neither one nor 'tother, and so didn't really attract a clientele.
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I'll add to that because i knew who owned it.
It had absolutely nothing to do with motorcycles other than having them on display. (which i did first, thank you)
Far too expensive and uppity to be any rider hangout, unless you went home, changed into your dockers and drove your car there.
A good cafe / hangout would be feasible if there was ample parking, and fair priced fare, no booze required.
I think if a person did it right, and started in the spring, there would be enough regular clientele to make it through the few months of winter.
If there's one thing lacking in Toronto, its decent / normal food at a reasonable price.
Any place that opens and closes in a couple years, is usually a planned chapter 11 from the start.
 
crankcall said:
The concept could work, and yes there is no question it will never be legitimate in UK pedigree. I did read an article last month interviewing a UK biker that was at the heart of the rocker movement and he has no idea why anybody really wants to relive those days, but thousands are keeping the faith and a lot of companies have been created to make components and complete bikes to follow the trend.

Like any bar/lounge/cafe it would need a location that's not impossible to get to, a draw to get people out, and an attraction to get them to go back.

The hospitality industry is a very fickle mistress. Great plans often end in tears.

The ice house in Campbellville is a prime example of a bike friendly place that by virtue of location has thrived. Average coffee, diner type average eats and bad seating. But gas available, 1km off the hyway and in the middle of decent riding area and bingo, successful cafe.
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Here is the trade off in our weather.....although I agree gas and clear roads are vital ingredients for a biker hangout, that also means the winter months will be hard times for the vendor. Tim's at LL is a good example of organic genuine (Ace-style) culture. It is a business that thrives year round without depending on bikers. Is close to the DVP and Gardiner, has gas, casual vibe, a slightly rebellious vibe, and centrally located.

The cafe racers of old utilized infrastructure that was already in place and kicked off European road racing....which eventually morphed into MotoGP!!!!!

Opening a cafe to cater to bikers is actually counter to the Ace spirit and Toronto dynamics.

Also Ace is the last surviving of many biker cafes and hangouts of the era. Chelsea bridge was actually a wildly more successful hangout every Friday night until a new condo went up and the police started enforcing noise and loitering laws. Before that it was industrial to one side, a park to the other, and a wheelie fest across the bridge till 2am with biker cops popping by to hang out too!!! All that and yet only a crappy mobile chip and hotdog vendor!!!!! Chelsea bridge had over a 50 year history!!!!! and yet never had a vendor!!!!

The location is a product of parameters conducive to biker culture. The food and chairs are tertiary!
 
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Ace cafe (uk) is WAY more successful in the last 8yrs being sponsors of festivals and doing catering at Goodwood, co sponsoring Rocker/Mod events and selling t shirts and stickers than they probably ever made being a truck stop. The business model works there.

It would take more than hanging a motorbike from the rafters to create the vibe and make it work here. HD thought by putting coffee bars in the destination dealerships it would become a draw, most are now storage areas at the dealer.

I like the idea, but I wouldn't use my money.
 
Rob MacLennan said:
You don't think that riders in the Toronto area want a place to bench race in the off season? I do.
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I didn't say I wouldn't wish for such a place to exist, I just don't think it stands a chance, that's all.

I personally am not interested in off season meetings, too busy life I guess.
 
mxs said:
I didn't say I wouldn't wish for such a place to exist, I just don't think it stands a chance, that's all.

I personally am not interested in off season meetings, too busy life I guess.
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"Meetings" make it sound too official. What about just kicking back with your friends who ride and going out for an evening?
 
Have a look at the Iron Horse Hotel in Wisconsin, converted warehouse turned ultra chic hotel, motorcycle parking under roof and security. Dog friendly, motorcycle themed entire building. Near HD museum and really nice food. Milwaukee winters aren't much prettier than ours.

I think a firm commitment to the vision and VERY deep pockets would be required.
 
A good example of how the concept of a motorcyclist cafe could work is: Deus Ex Machina in Sydney, Australia.

The garage/showroom/store http://au.deuscustoms.com/location/the-house-of-simple-pleasures/
The cafe next door http://www.deuscafe.com.au/

The place has a real good vibe to it. Somewhat hipster but not overly so and very welcoming to motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists. I think that is important, is good that it is particularly welcoming to motorcyclists but you want it to be inviting to non-motorcyclists as well since thats just a good business move. If you roll in around lunch time during the week, the cafe is full of the regular lunch crowd. The menu is pretty good and will please a foodie. In the showroom, they have a lot of interesting (but somewhat overpriced) machines and fairly nice apparel and random high-end motorcyclist stuff. They to bike build offs and host other events for bikers. Its a pretty cool scene and it seems to attract the decent, civilized, true hobbyist bikers.

I could imagine a similar type place doing well in Toronto but the challenge is in trying to create an overall postivie atmosphere that draws in a good, positive clientele while not really appealing to the douchy tim hortons parking lot poser bikers.
 
What about Apache or some burger spot like that?!?! Oodles of parking, not far off the 427 or Gardiner, open late.....pro6 near by....used to have a couple other bike shops near by too (which strikes me as odd why Apache never caught on).

I'm sure we could find an existing spot with enough character. We don't need to dream and wish for a wealthy patron saint of motorcycles to cater to us.

Oh and for the ****** crowd.....Tim's right across the street! Well separated by a breakfast joint....enough to create a decent ****** buffer. And a Starbucks kitty corner, and immediately beside....that's right 2 Starbucks within 50 meters. A gas station one block away, and Kipling subway for anyone who has their bike in the shop!!!!

That's it, I settled it.............Apache is the new spot!!!!!!!!!!

https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=maps&...=MLRqIoQ6qIA2_lCgb_nEIA&cbp=12,336.74,,0,6.55
 
Half of the time when I was at Cycle World or Parker Brothers, I would swing by Apache Burger before heading home.
 
crankcall said:
Like any bar/lounge/cafe it would need a location that's not impossible to get to, a draw to get people out, and an attraction to get them to go back.

The hospitality industry is a very fickle mistress. Great plans often end in tears.
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It would also be a very niche market. 3 or more bikes parked in front of a bar is about a 33-35% chance women won't go in. And 6 bikes or more meant about a 65% chance women wouldn't enter (John Taffer's statistic, so take them with a grain of salt).

Either way, I think it's a very valid point. Add to that the average industry life of a good bar/club being is 5 years and it would really have to have top notch staff to have the place running.

The focal point would have to be the food or entertainment; I have a hard time seeing motorcycles as being anything else but a theme in Toronto.
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