I haven’t been past the blue building for several months, so it was a nice surprise to drop in for coffee and a veggie panini at Andrews on 8th.
Don’t let the unfinished paint job fool you; it’s a major work in progress by Brad Hodson, owner of Valley Estates, a make-your-own-wine store that shares the commercial block with the cafe.
Brad’s been slaving over the 1912 building since June last year. He’s stripped off the aluminum cladding at the front and uncovered the original pediment. He’s put in large windows along St. Andrews, refinished the original fir floor, and put in an open concept production area with bottling stations in his wine business.
Eventually, all the blue marine paint will be stripped away and replaced with a coat of Strathcona red paint trimmed with Victorian peridot and Edwardian buff accents.
The cafe officially opened April 25 and its run by Joanne Laubauch and her partner Brenda Snowden, who was born and raised down the street and remembers coming to the building as a kid to pick up the groceries.
Joanne and Brenda have run the Banqueting Table out of the Hillside Baptist Church in Lynn Valley for the past 13 years. The non profit company employs single mothers wanting to get back into the workforce and gives them a job and the chance to gain some skills in catering. As far as culinary experience, their motto is: “if you can cut a carrot, you can work with us.”
The non profit has grown too big for the Church digs and now they are running the catering business from the kitchen. The menu is in flux, says Joanne—last week it was an assortment of sandwiches, grilled cheese on thick slabs of bread, strawberry and cherry scones and cookies.
The cafe, says Joanne, is also a work in progress. The plan is to build slowly by word of mouth. That shouldn’t be a problem–the cafe was packed last Wednesday lunch time. The coffee’s great, the food reasonably priced, all it needs is some tables and chairs out the front for sunny days, a bike rack and something to hook the dog up to, and business should stay brisk.
The cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Brad has posted archival photos and before and after pictures on his blog.
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2 comments on “North Vancouver’s Andrews on 8th”
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I have always found this house facinating. I used to shop there occasionally while it was a store, when I lived nearby and more recently for coffee. I am so glad it was not torn down and repurposed as a community gathering place.