The entry way to Heliopolis social cafe on First ST SW just off of 9th avenue in downtown Calgary. (Connor Spivak, CMRU.ca)
With final exam season coming up quickly, many students are on campus studying. Finding a place to study can be challenging, so why not go off campus and visit Heliopolis Social Café in downtown Calgary?
Heliopolis has quickly become an open and welcoming space in the community for everyone to enjoy. Since opening in August 2024, the café has steadily grown and continues to flourish. Creating a space where Calgarians can relax and connect has always been the goal for co-owner and co-founder Bishoy Beshera. When describing the idea behind Heliopolis, Bishoy said he wants it to be “a place for people to sit and chill and connect.”
“We ended up being this mix of a coffee shop, a cocktail bar, and a music venue,” said Bishoy.
Standing Out in the Community
With the goal of truly becoming part of the community, Bishoy and the team at Heliopolis needed a way to stand out from other establishments in the area. While being a bar, café, and bistro already made them unique, they wanted to go even further.
They now offer:
- Exquisite food
- Curated cocktails
- Specialty coffee & tea
- Live music
- No tips
- No cover
- Open late
Providing all of these exceptional features has allowed Heliopolis to stand out and become one of the premier locations in all of Calgary.
Location
Location is incredibly important for any business, and Heliopolis seems to have found the perfect spot. Located at 817 1 St SW, it is just a one-block walk from the Calgary Tower and a two-block walk from the 1 Street SW train station.
With its continued growth, Heliopolis has found its roots and built an ever-growing community of regulars and newcomers alike.
Personal Reflection
During the filming of this project I was able to see first hand the impact Heliopolis had on the community and the community has on it. The time I spent filming the project on location really helped me understand what Heliopolis actually does for the community. The space they have created really feels inviting for everyone to come and enjoy. Whether you are freshly 18 at university and in need of a place to study or 85 years old wanting a relaxing evening sipping on tea with live music. The atmosphere created by Bishoy Beshera and the entire staff at Heliopolis is the reason this small business has become such an important part of the community. I hope with the deep story that Heliopolis has it can allow more people to visit it and become a major part of the community in downtown Calgary. With all the media I have created and the video I shot, the company can use all of the material for marketing purposes to expand the business and become even more involved in the community. After doing this project I was able to really learn about such an important part of the community and have been able to tell their story in such a positive way where it boosted my mood and made me want to keep going back and become a regular at a new place in town where I feel as welcome as I do.
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