Over a dozen motorcycles lined up along West 8th Avenue in Vancouver for the launch party of Jammer Cafe and Urban Garage on January 26th.
The hybrid business opened its cafe and brewhouse in October 2018, but celebrated the official launch of its motorcycle service shop at the grand opening party. The all-day affair included a mechanical workshop, a custom bike build competition, a barista latte competition, and live music.
Across the Georgia Strait, Wheelies Motorcycles has been running a similar cafe and motorcycle garage concept in Victoria for a number of years, but Jammer is the only venue of its kind in Vancouver.
Jammer owner Ryan Valade is passionate about the art of motorcycle restoration and proudly provides a facility for bike builders to enjoy their craft and connect with like-minded enthusiasts. Or, if wrenching isn’t your thing, you can sit back with a hot cup of coffee and watch others do the work from behind the glass wall.
“The whole design of the shop was always so that you’re sitting there watching the bikes being built,” says Valade. “You walk in here and you’re exposed to workbenches and motors that are half opened and guys that are in the middle of the project and bike parts are all over the place and they’re putting their bike back together. We built a facility that does that.”
Before starting his venture, Valade worked in the film and hospitality industries, but he developed his interest in tinkering with machines while working on the family farm. “You don’t call in a mechanic when the tractor breaks down,” he asserts. “You fix it.”
Valade hopes to bring in aspiring motorcycle enthusiasts and help the motorcycle community broaden their knowledge of their machines and improve their mechanical skills.
Non-riders are welcome at Jammer; many of the cafe’s customers are members of the community or travelers who have come to check out Jammer’s unique business concept.
The cafe serves Pallet Coffee and craft beer from A-Frame and Red Collar. It offers a diverse food menu, developed by industry veteran executive chef Dave Martin, that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options daily and a brunch menu on weekends. It’s a hidden gem amongst brunch destinations in Vancouver, where you can skip the line and enjoy a classic eggs benedict on a Sunday morning.
Motorcycle enthusiast and actor Gabe Khouth has been coming to Jammer Cafe regularly since it opened. “Chef Dave is amazing so the food is fantastic,” he says. “I’m a little suspicious of vegetables, but he made an eggplant parmesan and I ate that. So that was big for me.”
Jammer hosts regular entertainment and social events including an open mic every Tuesday, and ‘90s music video and trivia nights on Thursdays. The venue is also available for group reservations and offers its facilities for special event bookings and motorcycle community meetups.
Jammer Cafe and Urban Garage
350 West 8th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5Y 3X2 Canada
778-723-6686
jammercafe.com
Monday to Wednesday 8 am to 10 pm
Thursday and Friday 8 am to 11 pm
Sat 9:30am – 11pm
Sun 9:30 am – 8 pm
