She's Canadian, he's Australian, but their story is very Vancouver.
Maggie Campbell and Harry Swinburn first met in a coffee shop in Vancouver about six years ago, and for some time now, the duo's dream has been to open up a little cafe and shop of their own. Now Campbell and Swinburn have turned their passion into a business, a cozy neighbourhood corner store and cafe called Mah Milkbar, located at 1502 Victoria Dr.
The shop's name takes its cue from Campbell and Swinburn's identities, literally (Mah = Maggie and Harry) and a "milk bar" is the Aussie term for a corner store.
Mah is a modern spin on the neighbourhood grocer. The tiny shop is brand new (the grand opening was Saturday, Oct. 14) but also feels homey and lived in. The shelves are stocked with local products, from frozen pierogies for an easy dinner at home to condiments, snacks, or fresh bread from Fife Bakery.
Campbell tells V.I.A. the idea was to have a convenient spot in the neighbourhood for locals to pop in and get some eggs or milk on their way home while also offering them somewhere to get a cup of coffee and a sandwich either on the go or to enjoy at one of their six indoor seats (with a few more outdoors).
"We just want to be a neighbourhood spot where locals will come, enjoy coffee, and be a staple in people's day-to-day lives," describes Campbell.
Mah Milkbar has set up shop in what used to be a South China Seas Trading Co. spice store. Campbell and Swinburn have been brightening and freshening up the space for several months, with many a local passerby keeping tabs of the transformation's progress.
Corner stores 'an important part of people's day-to-day lives'
Campbell says their spot on Victoria Drive is ideal since there is nothing like it nearby and it is right across the street from a park. "Everyone we've talked to has been talking about wanting something like this that adds to the community, " says Campbell, who is happy they have opened a business that "adds to the comfort of Victoria Drive."
The corner store has been the subject of much discussion of late in Vancouver. Recently, the City of Vancouver solicited residents' feedback on such businesses, and in the past few years, there have been a handful of high-profile revivals of corner stores, like Vernon Drive Grocery (now Rise Up) and Charles Grocery (now Mercato di Luigi). The City of Vancouver says 88 businesses are considered corner stores now, with 40 per cent of those acting as grocers; a century ago, that number was around 260.
Campbell says for her and Swinburn, creating a small, independent, and convenient corner store the neighbourhood can rely on is important to them.
The corner store can be a central part of childhood or neighbourhood life, observes Campbell, adding: "They are all over the world and they are such an important part of people's day-to-day lives."
For their part, Campbell and Swinburn are opting to focus their inventory on local products, produce, and bakeries to amplify other small businesses in Vancouver.
"We're all in the same boat, trying to make a living but still staying true to Vancouver," says Campbell.
On the cafe side, customers can order from a menu of several coffee and tea drinks, as well as fun options like a chocolate malt shake made with Milo. Right now their pastry case is featuring treats like croissants and other baked goods from Doe Coffee on Hastings. The lunch menu kicks in at 10 a.m. and currently has a line-up of sandwiches, from a simple cheese toastie with melty mozzarella and cheddar with tomato chutney to a pulled chicken on sourdough, or roasted squash for something veg-forward.
Mah Milkbar is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Follow @mah.milkbar on Instagram for more info and updates.
Video: Checking out Mah Milkbar on Victoria Drive
@forkingawesomevia This cute corner store with a cafe inside just opened up in an East Vancouver neighbourhood. They have pastries too! #forkingawesome #vancouverbc #vancouverfoodie ♬ is it still raining? - demon gummies
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