Fari Maghami is a pastor at Coastal Church, lives in the neighbourhood with his wife and two kids, and is an important part of Coastal Eden Cafe. 

Coastal Eden Cafe opened a few months before the Covid-19 pandemic arose. Through the trying times of navigating the pandemic and opening a cafe in the downtown eastside, Coastal Eden Cafe became a pillar of community support. 

As a social enterprise, Eden Cafe aims to better the neighbourhood by creating jobs for individuals who might otherwise be excluded from the workforce due to their past struggles with addictions and/or lack of experience. Eden Cafe also provides an intentionally hospitable and welcoming space that fosters a healthy community for all people. 

Why did you decide to open Eden Cafe?

Coffee shops can set an atmosphere for a certain area. We wanted to create a place where people know your name, where they feel cared for, where they can come in regardless of their struggles. We have all kinds of people that come in where everyone can enjoy the space and be themself. 

What is the biggest opportunity of having this cafe in the DTES?

People in the area come here to find resources and get the right direction. People come in here feeling very low, having struggles with addiction, having issues with getting employment, etc. But here, people can come and not be judged. The staff here know that they’re not just here to provide good food and good coffee, but to provide care as well.

We also have a transitional employment and training program. This 3-6 month program is for people that have barriers getting back into the workforce. For example, people that have had issues with addiction in the past, trouble with the law, or mental health issues. This is a great opportunity to provide employment.

What does community support mean to you?

Community support would be not just having one person, but having several people that are in your circle of support. The way we see support is holistic: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – that’s the way we try to help people. We connect people. If there are people struggling with mental illness, we would try and see if they have a mental health worker or doctor they could see. We connect people with areas, with organizations, or help them get an application for BC housing, as well as inviting them to church and getting them connected to a greater community.

What does community safety mean to you?

Community safety is one in which we care and watch out for one another. People speaking up to support each other. If a situation appears to be getting out of hand, we lean toward de-escalation to support our neighbours. The more love and kindness and compassion there is by everyone in the community, that will have a ripple effect of reducing violence.

What are some of your favourite parts of having Eden Cafe?

The people, the community. Seeing the joy on peoples faces when people are coming in and connecting with old friends. People use this space as a meeting place which is amazing to see. We love to see our regulars and hear stories. We love hearing success stories of people in recovery. Ultimately we’re here to help people and help draw them close to God, when you hear those stories it feels good.

Visit Coastal Eden Cafe for delicious food, great coffee, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Located at 643 E Hastings St.