Meet Tomo and Eric, the new owners of the East Cafe at Hastings and Nanaimo. The pair have been at the helm of the busy corner cafe for a month, and are pleased to introduce delicious baked loaves, cookies, and croissants hand-made by Tomo, who learned his craft at Butter Baked Goods. “I like making people feel comfortable and at home. When I was younger, the local cafe was the only place where I could be by myself,” said Tomo, who grew up in Japan. “The café owner was kind, and listened to my stories. That’s the kind of place I want to provide here.” Eric and Tomo both enjoy meeting all the people in the community. “I like everything about this area,” said Eric. “It’s multicultural. It’s laid back. It’s not pretentious – it’s down-to-earth.” Tomo agrees: “People say hello to each other, and care about each other here. It’s very comfy.” Stop in and wish them a warm welcome! 