Skip to main content

Our Story

Built together

from the ground up

Welcome to JAGS Coffee Shop & Guest Rooms, where family, community, and passion come together in the heart of Haida Gwaii. Our journey began in 1996 when Sue opened Hummingbird Gardens, a humble garden supply store rooted in her love for nature. Over the years, that passion blossomed into something much more.

In 1999, Sue expanded the business by offering cut flowers, earning her Floral Design Certificate and cultivating a growing local following. Our first major transformation came in 2006 when Sue and Jags attended a coffee expo in Vancouver. There, they discovered the magic of truly great coffee—especially at Elysian Coffee, where they tasted something extraordinary. Inspired, they returned home, armed with a Synesso Espresso Machine and training from Alistair, the owner of Elysian Coffee. Thus, our coffee journey began.

What began as a small garden shop has grown into a beloved coffee shop and guest house, but one thing has remained the same: we are, and always will be, a family-run business dedicated to creating a welcoming space for all.   In 2007, after 40 years in the logging industry, Jags retired to join Sue full-time. Together, they shifted their focus entirely to coffee, closing the garden side of the business by 2011. A new chapter unfolded in 2013 with the construction of new coffee shop. During the build, they ran the coffee operation out of their living room, welcoming guests into our home for an entire year. In 2014, we proudly opened our current coffee shop, complete with four cozy guest rooms upstairs.

As demand grew, we expanded again in 2018, adding eight more guest rooms. Today, we are not only a beloved coffee shop but also a welcoming guest house with 12 comfortable rooms where travelers and locals alike can rest, recharge, and enjoy the magic of Haida Gwaii.

timeline-photo.jpg

Connections First

coffee & conversation

At the heart of JAGS Coffee Shop & Guest Rooms is Jags Brown, a proud Haida from Skidegate. Whether he’s behind the espresso machine crafting your perfect cup or capturing the local beauty with his camera, Jags’s passion for coffee and photography shines through. Stop by for a chat—he’s always ready to share a story or a laugh.

 

Sue keeps everything running smoothly, ensuring each guest feels at home. She also tends the garden and bakes her famous cinnamon buns—a must-try during your visit. Their daughter, Khataya, manages the business with a fresh perspective, while her husband, Andrew, cooks our all-day breakfast menu in the coffee shop. And don’t miss Jaada, our long-time barista, whose laughter brighten every visit.

 

Great coffee, warm hospitality, and genuine connections—that’s what we’re all about.