Craig Johnston Personal Real Estate Corporation · Brokerage: Royal LePage Elite West
Quick Answer
Which Burke Mountain local businesses does Craig recommend?
What actually exists on Burke Mountain today — the David Avenue node, the one café on Princeton Avenue, the parks and trails — plus the honest gaps, including the fact that there is still no grocery store on the mountain. Craig Johnston, Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025 and 47+ year Tri-Cities resident, can walk you through the local context. Free Strategy Call ends with a written one-page plan in 24 hours.
When people move to Burke for the first time, the first question is always the same: where’s coffee, where’s groceries, and who does my dog actually like? So this is my field guide for people moving here. Real picks, real names, real trade-offs — and an honest account of what isn’t here yet. If I can't verify it, it's not on the page.
A few of these are technically in Coquitlam proper or over the David Avenue border, but they’re part of the Burke routine and worth the five-minute drive.
Burke’s coffee scene is small — one café on the mountain and a short drive to the rest. Here are the closest options.
3537 Princeton Avenue · Independent
The one café actually on Burke Mountain, at 3537 Princeton Avenue — alongside the Burke Mountain Discovery Centre, the City’s visitor centre for the Village. Coffee, baked goods, sandwiches and brunch, plus beer and wine. Quiet enough for a buyer strategy conversation, and it doubles as the place to look at what the City has planned for the Village.
Craig’s tip — go on a weekday morning if you want the quiet version.
3003 Burlington Drive, Coquitlam · Local institution
Not on Burke Mountain, but a short drive down the hill at 3003 Burlington Drive.
Craig’s tip — weekend mornings are busy, so go early.
Short list, honestly. Burke’s restaurant row is one small stretch of David Avenue — and it is finally growing. Most date nights still start with a drive.
4501 Kingsway, Burnaby · Italian
Not on Burke — there's no sit-down Italian restaurant on the mountain yet. It's a drive, so book ahead for weekends.
Craig’s tip — lunch is quieter and almost as good.
105–3380 David Avenue · Pizza / family
New to the mountain, and it took over the unit the 7-Eleven vacated in October 2024 — so the David Avenue node has quietly swapped a convenience store for a Friday-night pizza. By the slice or by the pie, and close enough that a lot of Burke families can walk it.
Craig’s tip — phone the order in on a Friday; the after-hockey rush is real.
101–3380 David Avenue · Japanese
The Burke sushi scene isn’t Richmond-level, but Hiraku does an honest chirashi and reliable rolls. Dependable for a Tuesday takeout when nobody in the house wants to cook.
Craig’s tip — order-ahead pickup, not dine-in. Service is warmer over the counter.
This is the honest weak spot. There is no grocery store on Burke Mountain, so the weekly shop is a drive off the hill for everyone up here.
Planned for Princeton Avenue · No tenant announced
Worth being straight about: as of October 2026 there is no grocery store anywhere on Burke Mountain. The City’s plan for Burke Mountain Villageincludes a grocery store, but no tenant has been announced. Plan your week around a drive.
Craig’s tip — if a listing or a site plan implies groceries at your doorstep, ask whether it’s describing a store or a plan.
Save-On-Foods, 1430 Prairie Avenue, Port Coquitlam · Full grocery
The Prairie Avenue Save-On-Foods in Port Coquitlam is a full grocery store off the hill, and Coquitlam Centre and Costco cover bigger shops. With no grocery store on the mountain yet, the weekly shop means a drive.
Craig’s tip — combine the grocery run with other errands off the hill.
David Ave + Coast Meridian · Health essentials
Shoppers Drug Mart at 3387 David Avenue, with Foothills Medical Centre and a dental practice in the same two-building node, plus a bank branch. Not a hospital — the nearest is Eagle Ridge Hospital at 475 Guildford Way, Port Moody, which has a 24-hour emergency department.
Here are the family spots closest to home.
Smiling Creek neighbourhood · Park + trails
A 3.43-acre City park that opened in October 2018, with a full-size sports field, pathways, seat walls and a plaza.
Middle Burke · Hiking / walking
The City signs two loops here: loop 1 is 2 km and starts at Burke Mountain Pioneer Park, 1428 Collins Road; loop 2 is 3.2 km. Both have mixed surfaces and some steep sections.
Craig’s tip — Pioneer Park has a 47-stall lot, so go early on sunny weekends.
Short drive off Burke · Library + kids’ programming
City Centre branch is at 1169 Pinetree Way and the Poirier branch is at 575 Poirier Street. A new branch is planned inside the Burke Mountain Community Centre, which the City targets to open in 2029.
There’s a reason the Burke dog-walker network is tighter than some HOAs.
633 Poirier Street, Coquitlam · Pool, skate, gym
Full-service rec complex — pool, skating rink, weight room, and kids’ programs. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with lap and leisure pools, an ice arena and a fitness centre.
Upper Burke trailheads · Free
Steep trail running starts close to home. The climbs into Pinecone Burke Provincial Park from the upper trailheads will humble your fitness watch. BC Parks lists Harper Road as one access route; much of the park is backcountry, so carry water and a map.
When a client closes on Burke, I email them the same short list: who to call for the small things that make a house a home.
Across Burke · Rotating roster
I keep a short list of local trades. I don’t publish names because the good ones get overwhelmed. If you close on a home with me, I send you the list.
Craig’s tip — hire the handyman for the first pre-move punch-list within two weeks of possession. It saves you the 6-month callback problem.
Burke Mountain specialists · Paid at inspection
I can suggest home inspectors who work on Burke Mountain. In BC, home inspectors must be licensed by Consumer Protection BC, so check the licence before you book.
Craig’s tip — an inspection isn’t a pass/fail. It’s a map of what to budget for. Use it that way.
Tri-Cities based · Paid by the lender
Mortgage brokers I refer clients to. Fluent in Burke values, fluent in the move-up bridge-financing puzzle, and won’t pressure you into the wrong product to close a commission.
Tri-Cities · Home + strata
Burke backs onto forest, so wildfire coverage is worth asking about specifically rather than assuming. I can refer you to a broker who will go through the strata policy and any wildfire coverage with you.
Burke doesn’t yet have: a grocery store of any kind, a proper Italian restaurant, a French bakery at the level of Mt Pleasant or the West End, or late-night anything. If those are dealbreakers, you should know up front. Coquitlam Centre is 10 minutes down the hill — but “10 minutes down the hill” isn’t always 10 minutes when you’re tired on a Sunday night.
Burke Mountain Village is planned to add shops and a grocery store, but no tenants have been announced, so plan around what is open today.
| Business or service | Address | What it is | Verified by |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBEX Café + Kitchen | 3537 Princeton Ave (beside the Burke Mountain Discovery Centre) | The only café on the mountain; opened October 2022 | Daily Hive; Tourism Coquitlam |
| Hiraku Sushi | 101–3380 David Ave | Japanese restaurant | Uber Eats listing; Tri-City News |
| Shoppers Drug Mart | 3387 David Ave | Pharmacy | Tri-City News (David Ave plaza tenants) |
| Other David Avenue plaza tenants | 3380 / 3387 David Ave | TD Canada Trust, Subway, Foothills Medical Centre, Sedation Dental Group, Johnston Meier Insurance | Tri-City News, October 2024 |
| Save-On-Foods | 1430 Prairie Ave, Port Coquitlam | Full grocery store (none on Burke Mountain yet) | HealthLink BC pharmacy listing |
| Caffé Divano | 3003 Burlington Dr, Coquitlam | Café off the mountain | Tourism Coquitlam |
| Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex | 633 Poirier St, Coquitlam | Pools, ice arena, fitness centre; 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily | City of Coquitlam |
| Coquitlam Public Library | City Centre: 1169 Pinetree Way · Poirier: 575 Poirier St | Nearest branches; a Burke Mountain branch is planned for 2029 | Tri-City News; Coquitlam Public Library; City of Coquitlam |
Sources: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ibex-cafe-kitchen-coquitlam, https://visitcoquitlam.ca/2024/12/12/where-to-find-coquitlams-best-hot-drinks/, https://www.ubereats.com/ca/store/hiraku-sushi/CBaJX53HSD2ki3SnRU2UWw, https://tricitynews.com/local-news/this-coquitlam-neighbourhood-will-lose-its-7-eleven-next-week-9614617, https://healthlinkbc.ca/node/9378, https://coquitlam.ca/384, https://tricitynews.com/local-news/coquitlam-library-branch-in-city-centre-is-now-the-main-hub-9970509, https://coqlibrary.ca/learn/online/kanopy, https://www.coquitlam.ca/880. Checked October 2026. Tenants and hours change; confirm before you go.
The master page — the whole mountain in one place.
Builder-by-builder guide with honest grades.
Current detached + townhome listings.
The real trade-offs of living here.
What a Burke week actually costs.
The data-driven answer versus the gut-feel answer.
Single-family presale playbook.
Three buyer types, honest trade-offs.
Empty-nester playbook for Tri-Cities detached sellers.
A five-step process built around clarity, strategy, and no-surprise execution — whether you're buying your first home or selling a property you've owned for twenty years.
We start with a real conversation about your goals, timeline, and numbers. I'll pull current comps, assess your buying power or home's true market value, and tell you exactly what the data says — not what you want to hear.
I build a written strategy around your priorities: target neighbourhoods, pricing strategy, timeline, financing structure, and the trade-offs at each decision point. Every recommendation comes with a reason.
For sellers: pre-list prep, staging direction, pro photography, and a pricing framework that draws interest without leaving money on the table. For buyers: offer structure, subject clauses, and the due-diligence checklist for every property that matters.
This is where experience pays for itself. I negotiate price, terms, subjects, deposit, completion dates, and the small details that don't show up in listings but decide whether a deal closes well or falls apart.
From subject removal through completion and possession, I coordinate with lawyers, lenders, inspectors, and trades so nothing drops. After closing, I stay in your corner for everything from tax-assessment appeals to the next move.
Schools that serve Burke Mountain
Burke Mountain homes are in the Smiling Creek, Coast Salish or Leigh Elementary catchments, then Minnekhada or Kwayhquitlum Middle and Terry Fox Secondary, depending on the address. A new SD43 secondary school is under construction on Burke Mountain. SD43 is targeting a Fall 2027 opening and will confirm its grades and catchment. Check any specific address with the SD43 School Locator before you write an offer.
Verify your exact address
Look up any Burke Mountain address in SD43’s official school locator.
Type an address → see the specific neighbourhood catchment schools. This is the authoritative source.
Opened in 2018 on Princeton Avenue in upper Burke Mountain.
View school →On Sheffield Avenue; one of the newest SD43 schools on Burke Mountain.
View school →Serves parts of lower Burke Mountain.
View school →Port Coquitlam middle school that serves Burke Mountain addresses.
View school →Port Coquitlam middle school that serves Burke Mountain addresses.
View school →Port Coquitlam secondary school that serves Burke Mountain addresses.
View school →Interested in these schools?
Explore homes for sale in the Burke Mountain area.
School information is a starting reference. Catchments are assigned by SD43 based on your specific home address and can change between review cycles. Always verify the definitive catchment for any specific home via the SD43 school locator before writing an offer.
Full Burke Mountain schools hub →Continue your research
Master guide
Schools, builders, lifestyle, the 9+ year resident's read.
Price bands
September 2026 GVR data + the honest tier-by-tier read.
Lifestyle
Nine years up here — schools, commute, weather, the daily rhythm.
New builds
Polygon, Wesbild, Foxridge — active 2026 inventory.
The best way to know whether Burke’s day-to-day suits you is to sample it. Six easy ways to test the neighbourhood on foot.
Mornings
Start a Saturday with a coffee walk. How the morning feels — busy, friendly, walkable — tells you more about a neighbourhood than any listing photo.
Core
Spend an hour at the David Avenue node and at the Village site on Princeton. One is the shops you get now; the other is the plan. Notice what is genuinely within walking distance of the homes you are considering.
Kids
If you have children, visit the parks and family-friendly places at the times you would actually use them, not just on a quiet weekday.
Trails
Burke’s trails and parks are a big part of the draw. Walk one near a prospective home to see whether the outdoor lifestyle fits yours.
Errands
Run a mock errand loop — groceries, pharmacy, the basics — to gauge how convenient normal life would really be from that address.
Honest
No neighbourhood is perfect. Being clear-eyed about what Burke does not yet have helps you buy with realistic expectations.
An afternoon spent this way is worth more than any amenities list, because it answers the only question that matters: does this neighbourhood feel like the place you want your daily life to happen? That is something you can only decide on foot. Give it an unhurried afternoon and pay attention to how the ordinary moments feel — the coffee, the errands, the walk home — because those, far more than any single amenity, are what you are actually buying when you choose a neighbourhood to live in. And if you want a head start on where to point that afternoon, that local knowledge is exactly the kind of thing a longtime resident can hand you in a five-minute conversation — the shortcuts, the favourites, and the honest caveats you would otherwise take months to learn on your own. That is really the quiet advantage of buying with someone who lives on the mountain rather than visiting it for a showing: the neighbourhood knowledge is already lived, not researched, and it turns a big, unfamiliar decision into one you can make with the confidence of a local from day one.
Tri-Cities monthly
September 2026 Coquitlam detached HPI is $1,584,400, −6.6% year over year. What that means for your buy or sell decision — without the salesy fluff. One email per month. Unsubscribe anytime.
No spam, no listings flood, no marketing automation games. Genuine monthly update from a 47+ year Tri-Cities resident.
Yes, one. IBEX Café + Kitchen at 3537 Princeton Avenue sits beside the City's Burke Mountain Discovery Centre and soft-opened in October 2022. It serves coffee, baked goods, sandwiches and brunch, plus beer and wine, and has a large patio. The next-closest options are off the mountain, such as Caffé Divano at 3003 Burlington Drive. Check hours before you go, because they change by season.
The plaza at 3380 and 3387 David Avenue is the only commercial node on Burke Mountain today. Tri-City News listed Shoppers Drug Mart, TD Canada Trust, Subway, Hiraku Sushi, Foothills Medical Centre, Sedation Dental Group and Johnston Meier Insurance there when the 7-Eleven at 105–3380 David Avenue closed on October 10, 2024. Tenants change, so check each business's own listing before you rely on it.
Off the hill. There is no grocery store on Burke Mountain yet. A full Save-On-Foods is at 1430 Prairie Avenue in Port Coquitlam, and Coquitlam Centre has more options. The City's plans for Burke Mountain Village include a grocery store, but no tenant has been announced. If a listing hints at groceries nearby, ask whether it means a store that is open or a plan.
Eagle Ridge Hospital at 475 Guildford Way in Port Moody. Fraser Health lists it as open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with an emergency department. On the mountain itself, the David Avenue plaza has a pharmacy (Shoppers Drug Mart), a medical centre and a dental office, which covers prescriptions and routine visits. In an emergency, call 911 rather than driving yourself.
The City's Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex at 633 Poirier Street has lap and leisure pools, an ice arena and a fitness centre, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The Burke Mountain Community Centre is under construction and targeted to open in 2029. The City says it will have a six-lane lap pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river, a double gym, a fitness centre and a library branch.
Not yet. The City says a new Coquitlam Public Library branch will open inside the Burke Mountain Community Centre, its first branch inside a community centre. The centre is targeted to open in 2029. Until then, the nearest branches are City Centre at 1169 Pinetree Way and Poirier at 575 Poirier Street. Both are a drive from most Burke Mountain homes.
It depends on the street. Homes near the David Avenue plaza can walk to a pharmacy, bank, sushi and a sub shop, and homes near 3537 Princeton Avenue can walk to IBEX Café. For groceries, almost everyone drives today. When you shortlist homes, I map the actual walking route to each and check the hills, because a short distance on Burke Mountain can still be a steep walk. Book a strategy call to go through your list.
4.9 stars across 36+ verified Google reviews. Three from recent clients below.
“Craig was there with us everyday. Guiding us to our next step we were kept informed daily sometimes multiple times a day as to what was happening… Our home sold in only 6 days with multiple offers.”Gerry & Aline Howitson
“After searching for several years, I knew exactly what I was looking for—and Craig delivered. We viewed a handful of properties, and the home he ultimately found was exactly what I had been searching for. I couldn't believe how quickly he nailed it.”Warren Chu
“We had a fantastic experience working with Craig, who was recommended by a friend. He patiently guided us through the process to purchase our family forever home in Vancouver, explaining all the steps and answering all of our many questions. He was always responsive and available whenever we needed him and always felt like he wanted the absolute best for us.”Susie N
Whether you’re buying, selling, or doing both, a 20-minute strategy call gets your questions answered and your next step clear. Or start with a free Equity Map of what your current home is worth.
4.9 across 36+ Google reviews Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025 47+ years in the Tri-CitiesOr call direct: 604-202-6092