Queen West: New café and bar open in old Cold Tea space

Robin Goodfellow and Aldo Pescatore will open Café Gigi and the Dirty Laundry on March 1 in the former Cold Tea space on West Queen West; the project combines a daytime café and an evening neighbourhood bar in a 140-seat indoor-outdoor location.

Robin Goodfellow and Aldo Pescatore are opening a dual café-and-bar concept in the former Cold Tea space on West Queen West. The project, called Café Gigi and the Dirty Laundry, is designed to serve everyday neighbourhood needs and to feel welcoming day and night. The space seats about 140 people and includes indoor and outdoor areas. The opening is scheduled for March 1. Key details: - Opening date: March 1. - Operators: Robin Goodfellow and Aldo Pescatore are the partners behind the project. - Names and format: Café Gigi anchors the front as a daytime full-service café; the Dirty Laundry functions as the bar side with a more lively evening program. - Location and size: The venue occupies the former Cold Tea site on West Queen West and offers about 140 seats across indoor and outdoor areas. - Offerings and staff: Gigi serves coffee classics, baked goods and European-style snack items through 5 p.m.; the Dirty Laundry, led by chef Renelle Joubert, plans counter service, classic cocktails, sharable punch bowls and weekend DJs/live music. Summary: The new pair of venues aims to provide both daytime café service and an evening neighbourhood bar in a single space, with a mix of casual food and music programming. The opening is set for March 1 and the operators are positioning the site as a place for locals to visit throughout the day and into the weekend.