Black Rook Bakehouse is back!

Coconut cream pieI wrote in August about the sad closure of Black Rook Bakehouse’s funky E. Hastings location. It seems that renovations and permitting took a lot longer than they planned, and it was many months before they re-opened at their new location, a few blocks further east, on the opposite side of the street. Well worth the wait!

I had been jonesing for their coconut cream pie for months, so I was really excited to visit BRB shortly after they re-opened in December. I was very sad to discover that there was no coconut cream pie to be had. I had a cookie instead, and some pretty awesome quiche, but the craving went unsatisfied. Then, just last week, I met a friend there to try again. I was speeding across town to meet her when she texted me that there was a pie situation. They were almost out of pie! She said there was one piece of berry pie and one piece of coconut cream, and she asked if I wanted her to reserve one for me. I took the first safe opportunity to text her back CC!

And oh, the beauty of that last glorious slice, sitting on a plate waiting for me when I arrived. I dug in too eagerly to think of recording the moment. Partway through, the craving starting to settle into a feeling of purring satisfaction, I recalled my blog and took this pic.

The new location is at 2474 E. Hastings, in the East Village. There is a cozy fireplace, and the same kind of country-homey furniture and friendly neighbourhood vibe as the old location. Check it out!

Last day at Black Rook Bakehouse in the East Village

Last day
Last day
A distinguished customer
A distinguished customer
Behind the counter
Behind the counter
Muffins à go go
Muffins à go go
Ceiling beams and customers
Ceiling beams and customers
Lines angles reflections
Lines angles reflections
Pies pop one by one
Pies pop one by one
Old-time cupboard
Old-time cupboard
Empty bread shelves
Empty bread shelves
Scooting
Scooting
Girl and bike
Girl and bike
Girl in motion
Girl in motion
Hands free
Hands free
Leaving
Leaving

I was fortunate to enjoy a mountain of coconut cream pie on the last day at the Black Rook Bakehouse original location at 2141 E. Hastings St. These pictures from Saturday, July 19, 2014 capture the nostalgia of this unique place, and the longing for more and more coconut cream pie!

Black Rook Bakehouse will be opening at their new location at 2474 E. Hastings any day now. They moved locations because yet another condo development is slated for the 2100 block of E. Hastings. Let’s hope this one actually comes to fruition, unlike the Alba development in the 2500 block of E. Hastings, which halted after tearing down many of the buildings on the block. Luckily London Drugs still survives at one end, and Starbucks and a few local businesses like Hair Magic Salon and Cash for Gold at the other! And we now have a nice community garden in the middle.

BTW, the Black Rook Bakehouse coconut cream pie is out of this world, with the most generous amount of yummy real whipped cream that I have ever seen on a pie. It is actually too much for me to eat at one sitting. Incredible!

They also have a selection of other amazing pies, desserts, and savories. But when I see the coconut cream pie, I have to have it. I did sample their delicate little honey lavender cookies as well, and they are incredibly yum.

P.S. Check out the Google Maps street view of 2500 block from July 2012!

Google Maps 2500 Block E. Hastings July 2012
Google Maps 2500 Block E. Hastings July 2012