Cora: bring me sunshine
June 25, 2022
In 1987, at the age of 40, and after escaping a toxic marriage, Madame Cora Tsouflidou bought a small diner in the Saint-Laurent district of Montreal, Quebec. She had three young teens, spoke three languages and had 14 years of classical training, but none of that helped her to find a job. Cora was not one to give up and, finally, thanks to her persistence as well as her ability to speak perfect Greek, she got a job working six-and-a-half days a week at a very successful Greek restaurant. She worked her way up to become general manager and continued at this frantic pace for seven years until she hit the wall. She took time off to recover from her burnout and then, with a tremendous passion for food and an intense desire to please her guests, she opened her first Cora breakfast and lunch restaurant. She developed a creative menu of mouthwatering breakfast meals the made her guests feel like they were having breakfast at grandma’s house. Fresh eggs, light and fluffy pancakes and mountains of fresh fruit are just some of the menu’s highlights.
Bolstered by the success of her first Cora’s, she opened a second and third location in 1991, followed quickly by five more.
In 1994, Cora knew it was time to take her concept further and began offering franchises, with the first Cora Breakfast and Lunch franchise opening its doors in Pointe-Claire, Quebec.
In 2000, franchises began opening in Ontario and by 2008 there were Cora franchises in the Maritimes, Manitoba, Alberta and Newfoundland.
In 2008, Cora handed over the company reins too her son, Nicholas Tsouflidou. One year later the company celebrated its 100th Cora breakfast and lunch restaurant opening.
By 2012, both Saskatchewan and British Columbia had opened Cora franchises.
One of the best things about Cora’s restaurants, besides the amazing food, of course, is the down-home decor on the inside. Bright colours and comfortable seating make guests feel right at home.
Cora’s continued to rise, all the way up to the skies, with Cora’s breakfast being offered to West Jet passengers in its Premium cabin on morning flights.
Rosemary’s Sunday is just one of the many creative breakfast dishes to be enjoyed at Cora’s. This one consists of two fried eggs, home fries, four slices of bacon, fresh fruit and two blueberry pancakes, all on the same plate!
As Chief Creative Officer, Cora continues to play a pivotal role in the company, overseeing marketing, menu and brand identity projects.
Frustrated by the quarantine requirements at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Madame Tsouflidou began writing a weekly letter to help her stay in touch with her valued customers. She continues to this day, having written 150 letters thus far.
Cora’s is one of the top 50 best-managed companies in Canada.
Gloria Sauvé
Communications and Marketing