Coffee shop opens at Central LRT station

Edmonton's first underground coffee shop opened on Monday morning in the pedway of the Central LRT station.

Mayor Don Iveson attended the grand opening of Burrow, serving coffee to transit users passing through the popular station. He said the business was long overdue as commercial bayswere built in the LRTstations in the late 70s and early 80sbut never worked out.

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Traffic just wasnt sufficient enough to support it these bays never took life, Iveson said. So here we are, 36 years later, and weve finally got this space rented out.

Burrow owner Nate Box said the business is not only good for him, but for the city as well.

I think its brilliant on behalf of the city, Box said. Its largely unused space that isnt generating any revenue or amenity and so now were generating both. Were generating a service that increases the positivity of ridership and it also increases the revenue stream for them.

Box estimates that about 20,000 people pass through the Central LRT station on a daily basis. He says he needs about one per cent, or 200 people, to stop at the shop in order for it to be successful.

Iveson is excited about Burrow, calling it an Edmonton original.

Now theres another cool reason to be down in the system, using the system, Iveson said. Its an amenity for LRT riders and people who use those pedways to get around as well.

Box hopes his business is the first of many amenities added to the underground pedway.