By Sonja Klotz (The Cascade) – Email
Photo: Olivia Scholes
This bright new cafe is located in East Abbotsford on Immel Street where the Gourmet Gallery coffee shop used to be. Cafe Amarti was inspired and built by a sibling duo, Jimmy and Kelly Kang, upon their return to the Fraser Valley from travels abroad in Europe.
As I walked into the shop, I was greeted with an open, well-lit, industrial-style space buzzing with people of different age groups and many familiar faces. During the official opening, this new cafe was busy with long lineups, filled tables, and live music by Abbotsford singer-songwriter Scott Currie.
“Although we were inspired by the European culture, we wanted to stay true to our roots here in Abbotsford and stay as local as possible in our products and service,” the Kangs write in an online post. After a number of visits back and forth between Vancouver and the rest of Fraser Valley, the two of them settled on supporting the Parallel 49 Coffee company that is based out in Vancouver and local breweries such as Field House Brewing Co.
Homemade meals and casual, laid-back customer service brings a personal and unique Bohemian touch to the place. This relaxed and informal attitude is in stark contrast to their slightly more bourgeois attempt to adhere to a European standard.
This is most prevalent in their presentation of foods and drinks, such as their mixed cheese platter, which along with their selection of red and white wines can make you feel as though you are experiencing a little bit of Europe here in your hometown.
As a European immigrant, I was excited to see a cafe like this on my side of town, one I can easily walk to whenever I feel the need to experience a slightly classier, near Bavarian approach to coffee from back home.
Abbotsford’s hipster artisan scene is booming — we no longer need to go to Vancouver to experience a little bit of Europe. Cafe Amarti will appeal to the Bohemian and the bourgeoisie; or to individuals who identify with both, the Bobo.
