It all started when Carol Mocanu worked at her father Milton’s bakery in Toronto when she was in her 20s.
Everyday at 4 a.m., she would go to the bakery with her family and they would bake together before she’d head off to her college classes.
She loved the experience and while her life took her in a different direction professionally, she always had the urge to return.
“I always said to my dad when I decide what I’m doing with my life, I’ll open up a coffee shop and you’ll bake for me,” she said. “It was always so nice working with him and meeting people. I always wanted to have an impact on a community in that way.”
Last month, Mocanu’s dream became a reality when she opened Brew It Coffee Bar, at 460 Davis Dr. in Newmarket.
“We came up with Brew It because my husband (Adelin) loves beer,” she said. “When I discovered cold brews, I realized these are my kind of brew and told him if I ever have the coffee shop, we had to have ‘brew’ in the name.”
Unfortunately, Mocanu’s father passed away of prostate cancer in 2020, but she said losing him, and with the impact of the pandemic, it was the push she needed to follow through with opening Brew It.
“It was like, enough, I need to do this and my husband was so supportive,” she said. “We did it and we made it pink because it made me happy, but also because it represents daddy’s little girls.”
Mocanu’s father had said that when her daughter turned 15, at her quinceañera, he would dance with her.
“He never got to, so I let her pick her favourite colour for the accent wall and it was like her moment with him,” she said. “His favourite colour was yellow, so we have gold accents.”
The whole family is involved with Brew It, said Mocanu, whose sons help her with the food choices.
“They’re foodies,” she said.
Mocanu said many of the baked goods come from local teachers who bake in their off time and the coffee is from Pilot Coffee in Toronto, which is direct trade to ensure the money goes to the producers and growers.
Originally from Uruguay, the Mocanu family moved to East Gwillimbury a year ago and initially tried to open the coffee shop there, but had more success finding a location in Newmarket.
“We love it here,” she said. “We would go to Metropolis (Mercantile + Café) on Main Street all the time. When we found this place (on Davis Drive) we felt like we weren’t taking away their customers and this would be a nice friendly way to add to the community.”
Mocanu said the community aspect of owning a small business is crucial to her and she’s been having the time of her life this last month.
“Everyone has been so supportive,” she said through tears. “Everyone was posting and sharing pictures. It was so nice.”
Using the business to boost others is something Mocanu is planning to prioritize starting with a SickKids fundraiser on Nov. 12.
“Some amazing women invited me to a market and someone’s daughter has a brain tumour,” said Mocanu. “So, we’re going to do a fundraiser to do what we can. Those proceeds will also help with Christmas to deliver them toys.”
Mocanu said she’s lucky enough to have a business to give back in any way she can to the community that’s been supporting her.
“I was raised to help every chance you get,” she said.
Having the opportunity to interact with community members everyday has been fantastic, Mocanu said, she refers to her customers as extended family.
“Even other local coffee shops have come here, too,” she said. “It’s like we’re a brotherhood… just one big team trying to caffeinate the community one person at a time."
Brew It Coffee Bar can be found on Instagram at @brew.it.coffee.bar.
