On Vancouver’s busy Broadway corridor, just east of Main Street, sits an unassuming little café. Its name — Heartwood — is an ideal fit for this lively social enterprise, which focuses on cultivating community connections through its events, art and healthy local food. Formerly known as Rhizome Café, the restaurant and social justice hub was re-branded after the space was bought by Trinity United Church in 2013. When Rhizome’s owners took their business to Toronto, the church stepped in to help carry on its Vancouver legacy. The first step was finding a new name.
“They wanted it to be named by the community,” recalls Community Development Manager Melanie Matining. “So they had a contest to see what people wanted to name the space.” The winning choice was “Heartwood.” And like the trees that inspire its brand, its impact on the neighbourhood landscape continues to grow.
