Soma's Gone!

Posted by Krisztina
Filed in News
January 31, 2007

Soma, the popular coffeeshop on Main Street has suddenly vanished. Poof! All fixtures are gone and the entire space is empty. I stood outside in disbelief this afternoon and in the few minutes I was there half a dozen other people walked up and stared in shock at the empty storefront. It was still open as recently as Sunday night, at least that was the last time I was there. I spent a few hours in the spacious back room and nothing was amiss - it certainly didn't seem like it was shutting down the next day. And judging by the two rolled up 24hours newspapers lying in the doorway, my guess is they closed their doors on Monday.

They're planning on reopening in another location, more info after the jump.

An announcement posted on the window says the building was sold and they were given the boot. Which means Monsoon's the next to go. 20 bucks says another condo's going up on that corner.

They will be re-opening at 151 East 8th which is the former location of Wink, another great cafe that recently bit the dust. And although I loved the interior of Wink and am glad that space will be used again, it's still a bittersweet announcement.

The thing I loved about Soma was the location and the space. It had huge windows looking directly onto Main Street. It was the perfect place for people watching. I would bring my laptop and spend hours there getting work done. It was never about the coffee - I prefer the coffee at Our Town actually, it was that the space was so conducive to working - and to running into friends, which is often the best part of working in a cafe. I hope they manage to create a similar atmosphere in their new location. I hope South Main hasn't just lost its signature coffeeshop.

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I've been told that a Pho house is going in the newly vacated spot. Pho's great and all, but it seems like a strange choice. They've got some big shoes to fill.

Posted by: Peter at January 31, 2007 7:17 PM | Quote Comment

I was all exited when I saw they closed. Maybe they could make room for a coffee shop that DOESN'T serve shitty coffee.

Posted by: michael at January 31, 2007 7:25 PM | Quote Comment

We covered the impending demise of Monsoon on UrbanDiner.ca. Click on the "restaurant news" archive. They close in March.

Condos. :-(

Posted by: Andrew Morrison at January 31, 2007 8:27 PM | Quote Comment

Soma is moving to what used to be Wink on 8th Ave.
Cuppa Joe is still at the corner of Main and Broadway and they are renovating so there will be more cozy seating room. They have the best coffee in the whole area.

Posted by: Jess at January 31, 2007 8:39 PM | Quote Comment

opps, i totally didn't see that you mention where they were moving. tee hee

Posted by: jess at January 31, 2007 8:40 PM | Quote Comment

So it is true! I've heard rumours but figured they'd open up in different digs. Thanks for the heads up, Andrew, I've updated the post to include a link to your story.

Posted by: Krisztina at January 31, 2007 8:41 PM | Quote Comment

I also loved Soma and was choked when I heard it was moving. It was such a wonderful, open peaceful space. I also liked Wink, and I hope Soma keeps their decor.

To me it just goes to show how little these developers care about the neighbourhoods they're reconfiguring. If you shut down a thriving, popular neighbourhood hangout and a successful and reputable restaurant, you're not doing it because you care about the good of the neighbourhood, you're doing it purely for the money. If I see a Starbucks go in there I shall become physically ill. (Maybe even every day when they open, right on their doorstep, as I pass by.)

Posted by: Kirsten at January 31, 2007 10:38 PM | Quote Comment

this is terrible news. I'm sure the cafe will still do OK in the wink locale, but it just won't be the same.

Posted by: degan at February 1, 2007 9:24 AM | Quote Comment

I frequented the Soma when I lived in the area. It was a great place. I glad that they're staying in the area.

RE: the rumor of the pho place...maybe it will be the pho place, Pho Thang Long, that had to close up by 21st and Main (the BEST pho place in Van!). The vacated their location when the original owners of the building sold and jacked up the rent. Zipang Sushi is there now and it is great.

Posted by: Ed at February 1, 2007 12:05 PM | Quote Comment

Thanks for the scoop -- Soma will leave a big hole but at least not a hole full of questions like what happened and why. I hate it when things are there one day, gone the next and it's just a mystery.

Posted by: shirley at February 1, 2007 12:19 PM | Quote Comment

What mind numbing logic some people have, ie

Nice, new homes for people = bad

Old space which serves bad coffee full of people who sit there for hours doing nothing = good

Go to the library if you need that. People who actually build cities, create jobs and make homes for people are coming to your neighbourhood to make it safe and lively again.

Posted by: bcneocon at February 2, 2007 12:18 AM | Quote Comment

I'm sure glad my favourite coffeeshops and restaurants are closing down so that homogeneous condos can take their place and make my neighbourhood "safe" and "lively" again.

Isn't Yaletown safe and lively enough for you bcneocon? Why do you want to come over to my violent and boring neck of the woods anyway?

Posted by: Krisztina at February 2, 2007 12:40 PM | Quote Comment

When did Wink close? That's a real shame, I loved that place. Not sure if Soma will do too well in that location, to be honest - Wink obviously didn't, and it was better in my opinion.

bcneocon, you are hilarious. You do mean to be, right?

Posted by: cat at February 6, 2007 4:40 AM | Quote Comment

you got me cat.

Posted by: bcneocon at February 10, 2007 3:23 AM | Quote Comment

My favourite memory of Main St a few years ago: Talking to a girl at a bus stop on a Friday night whereupon her friends came running from nowhere and "rescued" me from her, giving me the "I know you're a serial killer" look. Told me everything and more abut that neighbourhood. Perhaps it has changed. It will change for the better when the new condo project replacing Soma is built. Just because you have no way in hell of affording to live in it when it's finished doesn't make it a bad thing. It just means you are poor.

Posted by: bcneocon at February 10, 2007 3:31 AM | Quote Comment

"rescued" her from me, I mean

Posted by: bcneocon at February 10, 2007 3:35 AM | Quote Comment

Soma ... been to 7 years ago, once, and never returned. I bet they had better people behind the counter over the next few years, but the first bunch who started with the cafe were both arrogant and ignorant. Not the best coffee they were serving, for a place built so chic. But sure acted like "we are too cool, do not attempt to talk to us". Still one of my most favorite cafe layout of all time, that can not be duplicated.

Posted by: coocoo at February 12, 2007 11:04 AM | Quote Comment

That corner was ripe for condos sadly. Who really isn't sick of the cookie cutter condos replacing all these neighborhood hangouts? There isn’t a lot of the original Vancouver left to look at. Sure their coffee wasn’t great but still better than Starbuck’s and less crowded than JJ Bean. It was a great meeting destination and a fun place to see familiar faces. I will miss this place.

Posted by: Mark at February 15, 2007 6:07 PM | Quote Comment

actually, according to the main street grapevine, the restaurant and coffee shop are being replaced by ... a restaurant (tbd) and coffee shop (a bean around the world). true story.

the condos are as of yet unsubstantiated.

Posted by: doublevee at February 15, 2007 6:49 PM | Quote Comment

That really sucks! I always go there to hang out and draw. I loved the selection of reading material and they always had some good art in there. We'll see how the new location goes- main was perfect! :(

Posted by: Jason at February 17, 2007 2:27 AM | Quote Comment

Well that's gentrification, innit? Whether it's cookie-cutter condos, cookie-cutter cafe's, cookie-cutter shops selling $60 t-shirts, real estate goes to the highest bidder. I'm not saying it's right, but this is Vancouver, after all. They'll knock down an orphangae to open an Aritzia in this town...

Posted by: christopher at February 18, 2007 12:44 AM | Quote Comment

The Westender recently reported that the new owner of the building's gonna put his own restaurant and cafe in the place of Soma and Monsoon, hoping to grab some of the business that they generated on that corner.

More info here: http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/list.cgi?cat=23&paper=49&id=828599

Posted by: Krisztina at February 18, 2007 9:14 PM | Quote Comment

Hey, see those notes on the door? One of them says "serves you right for being an arrogant prick".

Awesome.

Posted by: Sean Orr at February 19, 2007 4:08 AM | Quote Comment

If Bean Around the world is going in, a lot of people will be disappointed. I rather see the arrogant pricks at Soma running the place. Both Soma and Bean Around the World serve half decent coffee, but at least Soma has better taste in interior design.

Posted by: coocoo at February 19, 2007 8:19 AM | Quote Comment

have to agree with Jess that the best coffee in the neighbourhood is Cuppa Joe. design is nice and all (re: Soma), but i'll take a great cup of coffee over design.... nice peeps at CJ too.

Posted by: eastsider at February 26, 2007 10:49 PM | Quote Comment

I am one of the arrogant pricks that worked at soma. i knew it was closing, but not that fast. i literally showed up for work one day, and there was a note on the door from the owner saying that we would be shut down that night. the next day i watched my boss haul an ice-box through main and broadway to the new location. so it goes.

the new place is looking nice. wine, whiskey, real food made on-site. and i assure you, better coffee than cuppa joe.

Posted by: insider at March 1, 2007 11:48 AM | Quote Comment

ok arrogant prick, look forward to see you guys re-open down on the 8th .. and with 49th Parallel, you will be fine. Just tone down the arrogance, it is not all about your coffee, it is also about the experience. cheers.

Posted by: coocoo at March 8, 2007 11:33 AM | Quote Comment

Soma reopened last monday may 21st. It's also a wine bar, they have Tyler Torrance (Bin 942, Aurora) as chef too. Soma is the best place in the area in terms of design and product quality (coffee from 49th paralell).

Posted by: cofeegeek at May 27, 2007 10:01 PM | Quote Comment