Getting to the heart of downtown

The Atrium Lounge connects food and art in Vancouver

BY MAT BOES of the VBJ

Once booming with loud music, raucous pool games and youngsters dancing until the wee hours of the morning, the space at 606 Broadway in downtown Vancouver has been resurrected by a man who spent many a wild night there as a teenager.

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Opened on Dec. 17, The Atrium Lounge, located on Broadway Street in downtown Vancouver, serves up food, drinks, has live music and
dancing.

"So much has been done to revitalize the Vancouver of my youth. We really want to do our part, through our food, art and culture," said James Dawson, co-owner and operations manager of The Atrium Lounge.

Along with fellow Vancouver natives Pete Johnson, Scott Chappel and Dustin McMullen, Dawson decided to build his new restaurant in the building that housed Broadway Billiards, a place where he would hang out with friends as a young adult.

To craft their menu, the team snagged third generation chef and Virginia native Daniel Robayo, then working at the acclaiming Millie's Diner in Richmond, after he realized that all of his favorite ingredients came from the Pacific Northwest.

"I've always seen cooking as an art, not a craft," Robayo said.

Robayo decided to create a changeable menu which transitions with the seasons. The team also decided to only use locally-sourced ingredients like bread from Je T'aime bakery, fish from Wild Squaxion Seafood, both of Vancouver, and mushrooms from Grin River Farms in Estacada, Ore.

Although the sign outside still reads, "Thai Kitchen," Dawson says that is something they are soon to replace. Meals vary from gourmet burgers to lobster mac and cheese, according to Robayo, with prices ranging anywhere from $3 to $20.

Opening their doors only two months ago on Dec. 17, the restaurant is doing well, says Dawson. In fact, they have already attracted their first big name regular: Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt, who comes in at least three times a month to order the spicy Thai shrimp, according to Robayo.

"We were going to take it off the menu, but figured with Tim coming in every day, we better not," Robayo said.

Everything is different now in his old stomping ground, according to Dawson, and he likes it that way. He says he thinks the small businesses of Vancouver should really be thanked for the revitalization of downtown.

"Downtown used to be rough, transients everywhere. Now it is dramatically better; business deserves all the credit," Dawson said.

As part of this business-friendly outlook, The Atrium crew have partnered with the Building Industry Association, not only as members but as hosts of BIA's Nothing But Networking event last Tuesday.

Robayo also pointed out the pieces of artwork on the walls, photos, paintings and epic tile pieces from local artists, all received from local artists they met at BIA's monthly meeting.

"We want to look nice, and this helps out artists," Robayo said, adding that a featured artist recently sold a painting for $300.

Although many might harbor some serious doubts about starting a new venture during a recession, Dawson says the economic downturn isn't something that worries him - not even after citing one statistic showing a failure rate among food service businesses of 88 percent.

Robayo shares his boss' positive outlook.

"No matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets, people have to eat. I'll never be out of the job," he said.

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