MORE THAN JUST A CUP OR TWO
by ELSBETH DUURTSEMA
This Week Staff
When Brad Ewen Wanted to combine a world-class coffee house with Kamloops' burgeoning bicycle , he envisioned a cozy shop packed with high-quality products and attentive staff. Now, three years after he and his partners opened Java Cycle downtown, Southwest corner of the city.

The move, to Notre Dame Square, means the shop - co-owned by Brad and his wife, Kim, Linda and Neill Moroz and Henry and Vickie Pejril -will be in the heart of a busy and growing business sector. Linda, who bought into Java Cycle two years ago, says the new location is close to three outdoor and lifestyles-oriented stores (Jardines, Wilderness Flyfishing Outfitters and the Physique Fitness Store) as well as the ever-busy World of Music/Academy of Performing Arts

The new, larger location, formerly inhabited by Sun Rivers marketing office, will enable more bike and cycling products to be properly displayed. Everything from Adams-brand children's bikes complele with handlebar streamers and spoke cards to high-quality adult bikes to world cup compitition bikes will be available. Brad has even ordered some new push scooters.

The number of bike lines Java Cycle carries will be expanding, too. The shop will be the exclusive local carrier of Kona, Gary Fisher, Specialized, Schwinn and Santa Cruz brand bikes. Helmets, mountain biking movies, accessories and the store's own popular line of logo-warped clothing, created by Logo Graphics, will also be for sale. Pulling out a bicycle shaped pizza cutter, an enthusiastic Brad says he wants to increase the stock of bike and coffee-related gift items, too.

The coffee shop will continue to serve the fresh-as-can-be Bean Around the World Coffees as well as teas and specialty drinks, catering to people on the move. Cookies, squares and other irresistibles will also be on the menu. The shop's service department is staffed by fully-trained and certified technicians who can keep every bike in top-notch condition.

The business partners are all very active in the sport of cycling, too. Java Cycle, in partnership with Sun Peaks Resort, will be hosting three summer races, including the British Columbia Cup and Canada Cup finals. While they are thrilled and excited about the new trails ahead for the business, both Linda and Brad says they will miss the charming downtown building in which the shop was bom.

With the original hard-wood and brick intact, the 105-year-old Inland Cigar Factory Building at First Avenue and Seymour has a family connection for Linda.."

"When I first told my dad I was investing here, he walked up the stairs and told me he and my mom and another couple had lived here in the 1950s."

The upstairs of the heritage building is for lease and there will still be a coffee shop downstairs.

"We will miss our downtown customers," admits Linda. "You get to know them as the 'large coffee to go' or the 'double-shot latte.' We want to see the same homey sort of feel in the new location."

Look for the new and improved Java Cycle to open tomorrow at the corner of Notre Dame and Summit drives. The cappuccino bar will be open for morning commuters at 7 a.m. with the bike shop opening at 9:30 a.m.

Linda and Neill Moroz, left, Kim and Brad Ewen, and Vickie and Henry Pejril
relax with coffees in the old downtown Java Cycle location.

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