Have you ever been riding transit and felt the need for a caffeine boost? Or found yourself craving a quick bite before rushing to class or your next appointment?

Fear not!

A growing number of SkyTrain stations and major bus exchanges now offer convenient retail options, ranging from coffee shops and convenience stores to pizza and burger joints.

With more than a dozen retail locations to choose from, you’ll find convenience both inside and outside the faregates, featuring popular brands as well as beloved local mom-and-pop shops.

Grab a morning coffee at Anytime Coffee at Scott Road Station, zip out for lunch at Donair Dude at Main Street–Science World Station, and pick up dinner at A&W at Joyce–Collingwood Station with a busy evening ahead.

Want to access retail that’s behind the faregates but not riding the SkyTrain? Simply tap in and back out within 20 minutes and your Compass Card won’t be charged.

TransLink’s Retail Program works to bring services and amenities to you, while generating important revenue for funding transit.

“We’re striving to deliver more amenities and convenience to our riders and to enhance their transit experience,” says Ruby Mangat, who is the project manager for TransLink’s Retail Program. In her role, Ruby works with the retail partners and their contractors to facilitate the store buildouts.

“It’s a win-win for the program as it provides value for our riders, while also generates a consistent source of revenue for the organization.”

It’s all part of TransLink’s Customer Experience Action Plan as we seek to deliver transit that is faster, more reliable, easier to use, more personalized, safer and more comfortable, and helps make our communities better.

One of our priority areas is to ensure transit is safe and pleasant — an environment where customers feel they have an enjoyable and welcoming experience.

Retail inside transit hubs is popular around the world, especially in countries within Asia. Not only do they provide convenience for customers but also enhance the feeling of safety at stations with added presence of people and foot traffic.

A growing program

The Retail Program is set to continue to expand into 2025 and beyond, bringing even more convenience and products to your transit journey.

You can expect new retail spaces to open soon, so be sure to keep an eye out on your commute.

Trees, a local café brand is located at Canada Line’s Capstan Station. They’re known for their traditional, organic coffee, and mouthwatering cheesecake. You can also enjoy lunch or dinner with their sandwiches, soups, wraps or salads.

Having retail spaces close to SkyTrain stations means less stops for the transit rider, an opportunity for businesses to reach our shared customers, and a way to pay for transit service.

Knowing she’s making a difference for customers is Ruby’s why.

“Transit plays an important role in our community and it’s exciting for me to be able to contribute to the community by providing our riders with retail conveniences every day,” says Ruby.

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