Beacon Bike and Brew

Location Picton, Ont. Owners Jordan Malka (interviewed) and Stephanie Malka Website beaconbikebrew.com

What’s your favourite coffee drink?

I’m an americano guy. I love the simplicity of enjoying the combination of a well-roasted coffee bean – we use Quietly Coffee based in Stirling, Ont. – good water and a well-tuned machine. I find an 8 oz. americano allows me to enjoy the sweetness, acidity and rich fruit of our product really well.

What’s the café like?

My wife and I opened our business this year to fulfil a desire to join the great growing business community in Picton and offer a unique, yet welcoming food, beverage and retail experience.

In Prince Edward County, lighthouses have a rich history, so we wanted to be a beacon for cyclists, flex workers, families and locals, so beacon was a natural fit. We added “bike and brew” to speak to the fantastic beers, coffee and bike retail items we offer. To have fun with the name, try to say “Beacon Bike and Brew” three times fast.

Since cycling is such a great activity and brings so many people together, we really thought it was important to create something inclusive. I’m a cyclist, so if I’m working, I might as well surround myself with bike gear that I love.

Tell me about the local riding scene.

Cycling is a big part of the County. With the nearby Glenora ferry running all year, the area tracked close to 4,000 cyclists using the service in 2018, bringing riders from Kingston and beyond to explore our region by bike. The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail also brings people from the Greater Toronto Area on bike, introducing them to the great roads and trails available.

Heading out to Big Island for a ride or to Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park are popular routes. But there are so many great roads and routes that it’s easy to spend the day creating your own path and sharing it with people along the way.

Looking ahead to 2020, what are some of your plans?

Next year, we plan on expanding our retail offerings online, expanding our food offerings and building regular event/ride calendars.

Are there any notable cyclists who’ve stopped into your café?

We’ve had a number of noteworthy riders and guests, including former cyclocross world champ Jim Laird, who won the rainbow jersey in the 60–64 age category in 2013. Most important, though, there are many young people excited about riding and exploring the area.