Will Rafuse

…Vancouver, 1912. Vancouver is a bustling city. Hastings Street is at the heart of the downtown core. It is the place to “see and be seen”. The city’s most popular theatres, restaurants, dance halls, and hotels are all located in the first three blocks of East Hastings Street. In that year, Antonio Demetry establishes a restaurant in the brand-new Craftsman’s Building at 20 East Hastings and names it the Vancouver Oyster Saloon. At the same time, Nick Thodos is working as a cook in the English Kitchen, five doors down at 30 East Hastings. The two Greek men eventually become the most popular cooks in all of Vancouver. In 1916, Nick’s brother Gustave joins him at the English Kitchen, and later that year, they purchase controlling interest in the Vancouver Oyster Saloon. They immediately renamed the establishment the Only Café.

The sign cannot be underestimated. It has shaped many a landscape and street scene, slowly etching themselves into the patrons’ awareness as the business matures, punctuated by other more sensational stimulants: the attention-clamoring window display, the pungent aroma of fried foods… Before long, they become icons – symbols of the business’ nature and roots…

Paintings by Will Rafuse. Please visit his site to view more of his work.