Jack’s Place

Probably the saddest café in the entire world, the lunch counter at Army and Navy, named Jack’s Place after Jack Cohen, son of the founder Samuel, offers cheap sandies, soup and coffee. There is usually a collection of locals who appear to be barely clinging to life as well as the odd bemused shopper who can’t fully comprehend the café’s majestic misery. I go there for the 1.50 grilled cheese, but I stay for the despair.

Jack’s is a special place. With all the selection and price of a greasy spoon, but all the ambience of a super market, it’s truly unique concept is not imitable. Jack is nowhere to be seen, but very well could be one of the regulars.
I’m not even particularly sure who the regulars are, but I know that there are definitely more than a few. I can be so certain because Jack’s is also a great place to eat alone, probably the best place in the entire lower mainland. You can sit down by yourself and enjoy a warm meal that you could have enjoyed at home, but with the added benefit of watching other people eat. Melancholy ensues.
I’m sure it’s not all gloom though, the cashier/​cooks seem to do their best to make people happy. But I would honestly ask anyone who looks forward to eating at Jack’s to write me privately. There could be an «I Saw You» out of this.