What’s Up with Jake’s?
To the returning students of Vanier College, the closing of Jake’s Cafe and Jake’s Bookstore was a tragedy. There one day and gone the next, the two businesses served delightful snacks and useful school supplies to the Vanier College students and staff. But with it’s unfortunate departure, hearts have been hurting. This has had people asking: ‘’What will be made of the spaces’’? Lucky for you, dear reader, the VCSA Insider has the answers:
What happened?
‘’The former COOP managing the bookstore and Jake’s Cafe declared bankruptcy’’ (Morin, 2025).
What will be happening with Jake’s Coffee Shop?
In early May, the initial plan was to collaborate with the Vanier Foundation. A comprehensive business plan and long term vision for a service-oriented bookstore and a sustainable Cafe was developed. However, the plan ‘’did not prove feasible’’ (Morin, 2025). Therefore, ‘’a call for proposals will be launched shortly to find a redevelopment partner’’ (Morin, 2025). The process will likely take three months. The goal will be ‘’to find a partner interested in giving back and creating initiatives that support students’’ (Morin, 2025).
What will be happening with Jake’s Bookstore?
A partnership with Concordia University has been made in order to ‘’secure ongoing facilitated access to purchasing books’’ (Morin, 2025). ‘’The former bookstore space will be repurposed’’ (Morin, 2025). ‘’Student Services will consult the community to gather ideas on how best to use it in support of [Vanier] students” (Morin, 2025). Options of how the space will be used are set to be “identified by December” (Morin, 2025).
What does the VCSA Insider think about these plans coming to fruition?
We can not wait!
The Insider would like to thank Vanier College Director General, Benoit Morin, for allowing the us to quote him!
