Joe's Cafe Bar

1150 Commercial Drive:

BP 1910/11/9 to Harry Evans, Townsend & Townsend (architects), Mr. Lauger (builder), $3,550 stores. Described on 1912 Insurance Map as one storey with three storefronts.

But this is not what Harry Evans had really wanted. In fact, a year before he had announced something completely different for that site. In the 3rd March 1909 edition of the Vancouver Daily World, we find this:

1909/3/6: Concept for Grandview Hall by Harry Evans (Vancouver Daily World, p.13; Province 20, p.23; May 29, p.41) - as shown below. It was not built.

I can only surmise that, even in the hyper-ballooning real estate market of 1910-1912, he couldn’t raise the $10,000 and had to settle for a less ostentatious addition to Commercial Drive.

(The Drive was originally a skid road for dragging logs to the harbour. It was named "Park Drive" but renamed "Commercial Drive" in 1911, possibly to avoid confusion with other Park Drives in Vancouver).

Sources:

Jak King
Grandview Heritage Group
Commercial Drive - Wikipedia

One hundred years ago at 1150 Commercial Drive:

100 Years Ago Today in Grandview, #17 . William T. Oates ran the Grandview Stationery store at 1150 Commercial Drive from 1921-1924. He and his wife, Elizabeth, lived with their son Cresswell in three rooms above paying $50 a month. No…

Five decades. One owner.

CBC Radio-Canada, September 4, 2024.

Click here for video without hard-coded subtitles: https://youtu.be/4og72-Ba7sQ?si=P14B4h5Nx1mTUPg4

Cafe Shutting Down, CBC Radio-Canada, September 4, 2024 - With Hardcoded Subtitles

CityNews, August 29, 2024.

Cafe Shutting Down, CityNews, August 29, 2024 (Last day is TBA)

CityNews story from today. Note: The last day of business will be announced soon.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/29/vancouver-commercial-drive-joes-cafe-closing/

Cafe Shutting Down, CityNews, August 29, 2024 (Last day is TBA)

The 80s was such a magical time at Joe’s Cafe. For so many reasons. And to so many people.

If you ever walked through our doors at any time in our history, know that you were part of something big. And you are part of our family.

There once was a drug store here, pictured below, back in 1954. And a stationery store before that. Who knows what will come next. But the magical corner of Commercial & William will always have a place in our hearts.

This was the beginning. Fifty years ago.

🇵🇹

Tony is finally officially retired (since last year), and is living the dream in the motherland.

Effective June 17, uncle Joe will finally retire, and sail off into the sunset. The cafe will remain open. Stay tuned for more information.



@5440

Paul Hyde

Ludwigs

⚽ Where do you love to watch soccer? Let us know below! 👇

Let’s go, Vancouver!

Fado - The Saddest Music In The World, Jan 14 - Feb. 5, Firehall Theatre.

Fado - The Saddest Music in the World - Firehall Arts Centre January 14 – February 5 Tickets: sliding scale | $25 $30 $35 $40 | online or call 604.689.0926 Show Times: Thursday to Saturday at 7:30pm | Pay-What-You-Can Tuesdays at 7:30pm & Wednesdays at 1pm | Matinees on Saturdays & Sundays at 3pm Post Show Talkback: January 19 & 26 | February 2 Duration: to...

👉Palavras Vancouver: A conversation with João Reis | October, 22th at 7.30pm

📘 The event will be hosted by Esmeralda Cabral.

✅Registration available until October, 20th: https://www.eventbrite.pt/e/palavras-vancouver-tickets-440671439137?keep_tld=1

In person event❗️

This is the bullfighter who trained Joe.

We are now temporarily closed. We’ll see you in September!

Notice: We’ll be temporarily closed; starting the last week of July, through the entire month of August.

Be on TV!

A major streaming network is looking for couples in Vancouver, California, and Seattle who are unmarried le***an, bisexual and q***r women (also inclusive of n/b, transwomen, genderfluid, etc.) in LGBTQ+ relationships. Couples should be together for a year or more (give or take) and be at a crossroads with their partner: one is ready to get engaged and the other isn't so sure yet.

APPLY NOW at LGBTQcouples.castingcrane.com

We’re back, baby! Open morning to late, every day.

Closure extended to May-Two-Four.

We will be closed until April 19. No April fooling! Hopefully we’ll see you again on 4/20 when the smoke settles.