Rooms Coffee a Toronto gem that endured many obstacles

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From the outside, a small sign advertises a coffee shop at a nondescript two-storey industrial building on Dupont St. near Ossington Ave.

But after walking up a few steps and opening a door on the left, you enter a Japanese-style cafe dotted with paper lamps, plants, and wood accents. There is an eclectic food and drink menu by day, and whisky and cocktail bar with a booming high-end audio system by night.

Rooms Coffee is the brainchild of Nigel Wang. He, with help from a business partner and other collaborators, transformed an empty space he was alerted to into one of the few high-fidelity listening bars that have popped up in Toronto in recent years.

It’s a truly unique and intimate space in the city, which is inspired by Japan’s post-war jazz kissa, a place where patrons could grab a cheap drink and listen to the latest bebop and cool jazz releases from the U.S.

While the cafe is open during daytime hours, in the evening it transforms into an event space for dance parties involving vinyl DJs, live music, chess and movies.

“Firstly, this project is a pure labour of love, brought to life through the collaborative efforts of many talented individuals,” Wang said. “Secondly, it’s all about music.”

Designing a space where he could visualize his ideas and interests into drawings on paper was a challenge. And then COVID-19 struck.

“No one could do much of anything, but the project wasn’t truly paused,” Wang said. “We took a year or two to refine the design and concept. Things kept evolving as we delved deeper.

“This is what a passion project is all about — it’s not a matter of setting something up and walking away. It’s about consistently making it better, even if just a tiny bit.”

He faced significant challenges along the way and a variety of hurdles before he could finally invite customers inside: ongoing pandemic restrictions, zoning changes, construction delays, running out of money, obtaining a liquor licence, and numerous city inspections.

“There are probably many other things I can’t remember because I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this project,” Wang said.

He waited until the fall of 2023 to celebrate the official grand opening of the cafe despite the soft launch months before.

The nightly events have evolved over the years to its current schedule of Monday night chess, movies on Tuesdays, and live music Wednesdays.

On Thursday nights, vinyl DJs spin records as people chat at tables and relax on sofas. Parties are featured on Fridays and Saturdays where dancers can move to disco, funk, soul, and Japanese city pop.

Sundays are a more laid back affair, with a rotation of DJs playing mellower sounds.

“Many people have played a crucial role in bringing this place to life, and I can’t express enough gratitude to them,” Wang said. “The trust they’ve placed in this space is the only reason it shines today.”

In a recent post on Instagram, Wang said “casual” is the word that best describes the cafe.

“The ultimate goal of everyone involved in this program is to offer you the most easy-going, casual experience — with, of course, good sound, good food, and good energy,” he wrote.

With everything that is going on every week, Wang said it may be overwhelming to people new to the space.

But he stresses the relaxed atmosphere is the goal.

“We hope everyone treats this space as an extension of their own living room — a place where you feel completely free to interact with the energy we’ve created here.”