It’s been 20 years since I co-wrote “Cafes Vancouver” with my brother Arthur Wolak. Back then the internet wasn’t like it is today, there were many printed guidebooks for food and such.
The coffee scene was humming along and at that point it was going strong, some new cafes were planting their roots and others like Starbucks were popping up all over the city.
Friends have been asking me lately if there are any places still operational that were in the book, here is a list to the best of my knowledge.
Downtown Vancouver
Caffe Artigiano – 1101 W. Pender Street
Coo Coo Coffee – 477 Davie Street
Delany’s on Denman – 1105 Denman Street
Java Cat Café — 515 Hamilton St
Mario’s Coffee Express – 595 Howe Street
Starbucks — 1099 Robson St
Starbucks — 1195 Mainland St
Trees Coffee -450 Granville Street
Urban Fare – 177 Davie Street
West Side
Blue Parrot Espresso Bar – Granville Island
JJ Bean – Granville Island
Kino Café -3456 Cambie Street
Max’s Deli – 3105 Oak Street
Meinhardt Fine Foods – 3002 Granville Street
The Naam –2724 West 4th Avenue
Solly’s Bagelry –2873 W. Broadway
Sophies Cosmic Café – 2095 West 4th Avenue
Starbucks – 3492 Cambie Street
Starbucks –1500 West 2nd Avenue
Terra Breads – 2480 West 4th & Granville Island
Tony’s Coffee – 805 W. Broadway
East Side
Abruzzo’s Cappuccino Bar – 1321 Commercial Drive
Caffe Calabria – 1745 Commercial Drive
Havana – 1212 Commercial Drive
JJ Bean –1904 Powell Street
Turk’s Coffee House – 1276 Commercial Drive
Uprising Breads Bakery – 1697 Venables Street
Outside of the city
Delany’s Coffee – 2424 Marine Drive, West Van
Delany’s Coffee – 3095 Edgemont Boulevard, North Van
Mount Royal Bagels – 701 Queensbury Avenue, North Van
Whitby’s Coffee House — 14829 Marine Dr, White Rock
Wendell’s Books and Café –9233 Glover Road, Fort Langley
The books are no longer in publication, but you can find them in some libraries around including at UBC.
By: Richard Wolak