374 Powell Street is no exception. Currently, this address is host to the H.A.V.E. Café and Culinary Training Society, but it has quite the storied past. After the attack on Japanese immigrants by the Asiatic Exclusion League in 1907 put a damper on the neighbourhood’s spirit, a businessman named Sonoko Shibuya took a chance on it again and began selling his silk goods at 347 Powell. His operation grew to become the successful Shibuya Clothing, which sold men and women’s clothing to consistently returning customers at that location for 35 years.
The area thrived until many residents were sent to Japanese internment camps during World War II. Most of the buildings were then rendered useless until the mid 1960s. Aki Restaurant re-opened the doors at 347 Powell in 1963. Evidently, once a business starts there, it is in it for the long haul; Aki provided tasty, traditional Japanese meals to its regulars until 1999 when it moved to Thurlow Street.
After its opening in 2007, H.A.V.E. began offering its training program where students are immersed in an 8-week course in which they learn valuable life and job skills. Once the students have learned the tricks of the trade, their delicious creations are up for grabs to the public daily in the café. BOB works with H.A.V.E. to help place individuals in the program.
Upon entering the café, one notices the simple décor: classic diner-style checkerboard floor, Tiffany lamps, and grey-toned seating. The walls are adorned with the winning shots from this year’s Downtown Eastside ‘Hope in Shadows’ photography contest. Despite the neutral tones, the café is instantly welcoming. A large display case of goodies beckons to customers as they walk in.
The menu choices are plentiful, all at modest prices. Lunch options include various types of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and pasta. For those who are so inclined, breakfast is served all day. Bread is baked in-house and the other ingredients used are fresh and healthy. Bruschetta and pizza slices are offered for only a dollar; if that alone is not worth the trip, I don’t know what is.
From the extensive menu, our BOB testers ordered a variety of items to try: the soup and sandwich combo, a salad, and a chicken curry dish. There were unanimous rave reviews of what was sampled: the curry tasted “authentic”; the salad was teeming with vegetables, not just lettuce; and the soup and salad were filling and delicious. The pictures almost speak for themselves.
Quality of service and ingredients, as well as affordability, is a tradition that lives on at 347 Powell. One can only hope H.A.V.E. will see the same longevity as its building predecessors.
Content by: Lauren McGuire-Wood
Photos by: Lani Johnson
