A new cafe has taken over the space that used to house Solder & Sons bookstore, right next to Super Champion Specialty Cycle Shop on the Downtown Eastside. It’s named (rather lazily) after the address, 247 Main [Street], so don’t start thinking it’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

While they serve up Bows X Arrows Coffee in different ways and tea from Granville Island Tea Co., the main attractions are the juices, which are excellent. There are three combinations on offer. On our last visit, owner Joda Clément was serving up carrot, apple and ginger; orange, ginger and pineapple; and beet, apple, carrot, and mint. Expect these combinations to rotate in and out with others. The fruits/veg are fresh and juiced to order, and the prices are darn attractive (small 2.75, large 4.25).

As far as food is concerned, there is none. Clément says he might add small bites in the future, but since there’s no kitchen we don’t see it ever being a significant facet of the operation.

The bookstore side of things sees a mix of used books and small run, artist-produced books, the latter curated by Denise Ryner of Committee Artist Books. Expect book-related events – eg. launches, author talks, readings, etc. – to start rolling in the near future. Take a look the next time you’re in neighbourhood.

247 Main Cafe | 10am-6pm Tue-Fri | 11am-5pm Sat+Sun | Website

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