TECC: Why did you buy East Cafe? How did it go down?
Josh: That’s a bit of a story. I was working in a lab for about 13 years, then COVID hit, freed up a lot of my time, and I started working on other business ventures. I wanted something that would give me passive income. At the time, I was also working online as a researcher, so I was looking for an office outside of my home. Buying a cafe would combine both of those ideas, I thought — but I was wrong. Owning a cafe was such a bucket-list item, but I didn’t know how much work it would be.
East Cafe caught my eye online, but I thought the location right by the road would be too busy. Then my wife brought up the same listing, and we decided to stop by. The cafe wasn’t well taken care of, and there were only a few guests inside. Even though it was a bit dark and dusty — I saw something! And I just couldn’t let it go. For two months, I came here every morning to scope the place out and do my homework. First, I got to know the regulars. Then, I tried to figure out what kind of shop it was. I came to the conclusion that it could be a great community hub.
East Cafe has a long history. It was opened by Eric and Tomo in 2013, a lovely couple who sold it to Grace in 2019, who operated it during the entirety of the pandemic. Unfortunately, she had a tough time with the place and lost the love for it. I bought it from her in 2022 because something about the cafe just stood out to me, which I couldn’t really explain. I knew right away, it wouldn’t become a cash cow, but I had a moment the first time I visited and just thought: “This is gonna be my spot.”
The idea of a passive income office changed entirely. During the first week, I already knew I was in trouble. I barely slept and still worked at my main job. After cleaning and rearranging the cafe space during the nighttime, I noticed that I needed to tidy up the menu and processes, too. Before, all the baristas prepared things completely differently, without recipes, standard ingredients, or cup sizes. So I had to learn and then teach them how to properly make coffee-based beverages and other drinks.
After one year, I quit my day job and fully committed to the cafe. It was less a financial decision and more because of the people I met here. My bucket-list dream turned into something I hadn’t imagined before.
Photo: Shrinal Thakkar
TECC: What’s your favorite part of running a cafe?
Josh: The people. That’s the only thing. There were times when I was stressed out about money, barely breaking even, but it’s the people who keep me going.
My wife and friends thought I was crazy. I had to change my previous lifestyle, since I no longer have the free time that I used to have. But the people I meet here every day, they reach out to a place in my mind and my heart that I didn’t know existed. It was something I had locked up for a long time, because I didn’t have an easy childhood and youth, and this cafe opened it up for me. That’s why I can’t give up. East Cafe has become who I am now.
TECC: What is the City Smiles charity all about?
Josh: The charity is another big part of who I am. It runs in my family as well. My mother helps out weekly at the DTES, and my father is deeply involved in religious philanthropy.
My family moved to Canada from South Korea because my dad wanted to become a priest here, which wasn’t easy. During my high school years, we went through a hard time financially and due to expired visas. We couldn’t afford tuition and didn’t have the legal status for me to graduate and continue to university, despite my grade average being excellent. So for over a year, I just worked minimum-wage jobs.
Then I learned that my former teachers had compiled my transcripts and prepared recommendation letters for me, because of which I was able to get a full ride at Capilano University and eventually at UBC. I was very lucky to have these teachers, who made such a significant difference in my life. I don’t know where I’d be today without their help. I feel like I owe it to them and want to pay their generosity forward.
Photos: Shrinal Thakkar
That’s why I started the City Smiles program a few months into running East Cafe. Roche, a former cafe manager, came up with the name, and we’ve been serving free meals and drinks to unhoused neighbors ever since. But I always had the community-building aspect in mind and wanted to do more. My goal was to grow the charity — and it has! The past two years have been amazing.
Our very first fundraiser event was an Open Mic Night, which now happens every Thursday at 7 p.m. We had been giving out too many free meals and drinks, and it was hurting us a bit, so we needed to raise funds for this purpose. My daughter Romie and I were the only audience members at that initial event, where Donnie played some songs. It remained slow for a couple of months. So every time I saw shy regulars walk by outside, I grabbed them and took them inside to enjoy the music and other performances. Also, I told them to chat and memorize each other’s names.
Three months after starting the Open Mic Night, Taylor Moon offered to host the event because she felt safe to be herself at East Cafe. I said yes in a heartbeat, since she’s perfect for that role: great personality and great voice! That’s how she became the very first City Smiles Host, followed by Jarrod for the Book Club.
We also established the City Smiles Scholarship Fund in 2025, which will help neighborhood youth between the ages of 8 and 18 to realize community projects that fulfill their academic or artistic goals. Once we’ve collected donations of $3,000, we want to support the chosen kids in the form of money and mentorship. In a way, I’m searching for another me with this type of charity.
Photos: Shrinal Thakkar
TECC: What does community mean to you?
Josh: I don’t know, honestly. I‘ve never really been part of a community before.
When I came to Canada in grade 9, I attended high school and helped with my dad’s janitorial work to support my family. I had zero social life during my adolescence, because I mostly studied and worked. When I was invited to parties, I had to decline because I was busy — and too shy to share my life story. The first time I went to the movies was in my third year of university. But I didn’t know too many people, even when I was older. My only hobbies were solo things, like teaching myself to play the guitar and saxophone. I just love music. It was one of the things that got me through those days.
When I say that I don’t know what community is, I mean that I’m searching for community, and I’m discovering it with City Smiles and East Cafe now.
Photo: Shrinal Thakkar
TECC: What will you do right after this interview?
Josh: I’m heading over to our new second location, East Cafe in Marpole, to prepare today’s Jazz Night, which is every Saturday at 5 p.m. But before my afternoon barista shift, I’ll just be hanging out with the regulars and making community connections over there.
The idea is to create clubs like those at the Hastings location. I’ve put the word out on Instagram, but the best way is to talk to people in person. I want to get to know them, make them feel comfortable, and then hopefully starting or joining a club will come up naturally in conversation. That’s how it began over here, with Jarrod and the book club.
We’ve also just opened a venue in the Marpole basement, called The Pocket. The name comes from that feeling jazz musicians have when they play in perfect harmony and in sync with each other — they’re “in the pocket”. It’s a great meaning for our cozy little underground venue. We’ve already hosted a couple of sold-out jazz concerts there, with the proceeds going to City Smiles. Please watch out for more jazz, more fundraising events, visit the cafes, talk to each other, join a club, and support our cause!
Thank you Melly for putting this together and Shrinal for the photos!
Loved this inside scoop! I’m new to the neighborhood and loving the cafe 💕it’s a great place to write and people watch. I’m excited to get more involved with the community