First Post

Your View From Yogiberry

I've had a lot of people tell me to start a blog...probably because I'm occupying one of the most interesting neighbourhoods in all of Canada..or so I believe!

Yogiberry is the name of my store and my name is Amanda. I live in the building behind the store ....called the van Horne Lofts, built in 1995, they were the first of their kind in the area. Now the area is packed with them and all the trendy people have begun their decent!

People who have a mortgage or pay more than $500/month for rent call this place 'Gastown' the rest call it the Downtown Eastside I use both, although to be honest I probably use gastown more...alot of people have pretty strong feelings about 'The Downtown Eastside' and sometimes you just don't feel like being an ambassador.

My store opened its doors for the first time on June 15, 2010..just after the Olympics and in the middle of Canada's attempt at a recession...but I remain optimistic and if nothing else, the local drug dealers can be counted on for at least a Smoothie a day (because they're soooooooooo delish..no joke!).

My daughter worked at the store a bit this summer, she's 15 and has two piercings under her lip, one in her nose and one in her eyebrow, her step mom joked she'd set off all the metal detectors when her and my partner, Tjeerd, went to Holland a few weeks ago (Tjeerd was born there and a lot of his family still resides there...its a really cool trip!).

Right now it’s a Saturday night. For some reason the lights on just our street have been out...ever since the welfare check issue day and local users and dealers believe its another sneaky attempt to thwart their efforts. I asked a police officer but he said I would have to call Hydro. Its really affected business though. We usually stay open till 2 am but we closed at midnight last night having only sold one Smoothie (but it was delish!!! lol).

Anyways, I thought I'd write something about my little stores story...its such an interesting space and I have so much to share...there are literally thousands of stories begging to be told, countless characters left to reveal......some tales down here are very very heart breaking, its true, but to be honest alot is funny and even...touching.

Peace..outside!

                                                                                                   ME at Yogiberry