Montreal Vegan Juggernaut Copper Branch Has Big Expansion Plans

AROUND THE WORLD — Montreal-based fast casual vegan eatery Copper Branch is embarking on its biggest expansion yet, with some 60 new locations in the works, including the company’s first international locations, in the USA and France. The chain, known for an array of rice bowls, burgers, and all-day breakfasts, started out in Montreal in 2014. Founder Rio Infantino has got into the franchising game: courtesy of new franchisees, the company should approximately quadruple in size. A good chunk of the new Copper Branches will be in Quebec: the company is jumping from 13 locations in the province to about 20 by the end of 2018, with another 20 set to arrive in 2019. Rimouski, Vaudreuil, Candiac, Kirkland, and Place Bell in Laval are all set to have outlets. In inner Montreal, new locations are slated for Parc Avenue near Sherbrooke, Côte-des-Neiges at Edouard-Montpetit, Complexe Desjardins downtown, and Galeries d’Anjou.

Lili Co./Supplied

MILE END — St-Laurent brunch favourite Lili Co. is joining the esteemed club of Montreal restaurants to offer that midday meal on weekdays — the restaurant, which made its name with offal but has pivoted towards adding plenty of vegetables to the menu, will be doing brunch from Tuesday to Sunday. Classics like banana pancakes and the octopus club will stay on the menu, and some more lunch-leaning options have been added, which are also take-out friendly for office lunches and such — think fresh pasta and more.

Mile Public House/Facebook

LAVAL/BLAINVILLE — Speaking of expanded service, Brossard cocktail hub Mile Public House has also gotten a whole lot bigger: the bar is staying firmly off-island with two new locations, one in Laval (complete with all-season terrasse), and another further north in Blainville. The original Dix30 location also had a small makeover last month. Find them at 2565 Daniel-Johnson Boulevard (Laval) and 1437 Michèle-Bohec Boulevard (Blainville).

LAVAL — Also up north, delivery service Foodora has moved on Laval, offering delivery from Chomedey through to St-Elzear Boulevard, with delivery free until June 30.

Les Moulins La Fayette/Facebook

TORONTO — Montreal bakery Les Moulins La Fayette is also branching out: an Eater tipster spotted a papered over window advertising the rather French purveyor of bread and pastries on Queen Street, near Spadina. It’s one of two for the city, along with a location for Ottawa — but it’s not La Fayette’s first time outside Quebec; the bakery also added a location in Miami Beach earlier this year.

SHAUGHNESSY VILLAGE — Japanese cheesecake baker Uncle Tetsu (known for its lengthy lines in Toronto) have finally confirmed to Eater that the company is indeed opening near Concordia University downtown — but the timeline is fairly vague at this stage, with a representative saying “later this summer”.

• Health Food Chain Copper Branch Has Bold Montreal Expansion Plans [EMTL]
• This French bakery was a hit in Canada. Now its first U.S. spot is open in Miami Beach [Miami.com]
• Popular Japanese Cheesecake Chain Uncle Tetsu Appears to Be Coming to Montreal [EMTL]
• Mile Public House investit la couronne nord [La Presse]