The Wilder Snail

Surinder Singh, Strathcona, Vancouver, Canada

Designer / Founder / Grocer / Barista

There is a new camper in the neighbourhood and he brought his own 'mobile home' which the observant will note when they visit his new establishment. The Wilder Snail is a snappy little neighbourhood grocery with a complimenting Café at the corner of Keefer and Hawk, the northeastern corner of McLean Park. Mr. Surinder Singh, a life-long resident of Vancouver and the Vancouver East community started playing soccer a decade earlier in McLean Park with a group when he first saw the opportunity. Seeing the location, Singh's vision took root.

Surinder, whose main passion is designing and creating spaces said, “the building is in a great location and in a great community; a prime spot for a neighbourhood grocery and which happens to also offer coffee, snacks, and sandwiches.” With an east-south exposure with great light from full-sized windows along the store-front, visitors are greeted by a warm atmosphere achieved with beautiful and comforting hardwood flooring throughout, simple rows of gleaming shelves lined with organic and other wholesome products, a beautiful rough-timber full-length coffee bar counter, and big red paper-lantern lighting globes hanging from the ceiling. While you're there, check out Surinder's snail shell, part of the signage that will eventually hang outside.

Ten years is a long time for a vision to come to light. Surinder, the creative designer of many successful establishments had his hands full more than a decade ago following his career with his second passion: Music. Graduating UBC in 1990 with a major in English, where he read and studied literature and enjoyed metaphysical poetry, Surinder packed up to Europe and became intimately and passionately involved with the London music scene. Returning to Vancouver in 1993, Surinder continued to pursue his passion with music and launched his first entrepreneurial venture in Vancouver.

Mo'Funk, Surinder's music-industry focused promotional company introduced new entertainment to Vancouver. Promoting new acts, new music, bringing new entertainment to the Vancouver market, and demonstrating creative talent for venues that attract crowds, Surinder, well-known as 'Seren' from his deejaying days, was invited to create additional venues. Mo'Funk participated in creating new venues for Vancouver to dance and celebrate. The Chameleon Urban Lounge came to fruition in 1994 at the Georgia Hotel, and in 1996 he created Sonar Cabaret in collaboration with five partners. Creating for others to reap the rewards inspired Surinder to create spaces on his own and in 1998 he began with the restaurant world of food, ambiance, and good company.

Surinder's first solo restaurant creation, Monsoon East West Brasserie, was a collaborative effort with his wife whose career had always been in the restaurant and hospitality field. Rather than have her continue managing someone else's restaurant, this was a golden opportunity to create one for her to run and manage. Monsoon became a central hive, well-known and loved along South Main for nearly a full decade before property ownership changed and the building slated for redevelopment.

Shortly after launching Monsoon, his next solo creation, Clove Cafe and Record Bar on Commercial, was originally a Café with a music focus – music being his first passionate career. Without sufficient business growth, Surinder radically changed the focus and introduced an Indian-Fusion restaurant bar, still appropriately named Clove. Within a couple of years, Surinder sold this business and it is still running as it was created under the new ownership many years later. Leaving Clove, he returned to work as a designer, remodelling and housing construction, while continuing to support his wife at Monsoon until it closed down.

Summer 2007, securing The Wilder Snail location, Surinder was finally in the position to act upon that vision playing soccer nearly a decade earlier. The City of Vancouver strike in 2007 delayed the renovation and opening date by months! Fortunately for Strathcona residents, Surinder's vision remained strong and the work completed, incorporating the store component to meet city zoning requirements, combining the neighbourhood grocery with a coffee bar / lunch counter with a great selection of sandwiches made fresh everyday.

Surinder shares, "A main factor in the creation of the neighbourhood grocery is to sell good groceries. There is currently a bylaw in place which states that if a neighbourhood grocery license is not renewed within three months that license can never be reactivated; bye-bye corner store which every kid has grown up with in Vancouver." Surinder's passionate response includes, "and nothing to say about the environmental impact when one needs a car to get a carton of milk or a decent loaf of bread. If anything, my work at the Snail should be with the hope that others will follow; to build and become the boutique retailer, a clothing store, a DVD rental, a custom drum shop. The ideas are endless when we think on how we can serve our community as well as ourselves through positive creativity. a village life where we walk a few blocks and a cobbler fits our shoes, or a repair-woman fixes our bicycle, or we get an organic bubble tea at the teahouse near Chinatown - these things are being created as we speak. A truly local community."

In the few hours at the Grocery Cafe, the typical 1-2 hour chat and interview was prolonged by the steady stream of patrons visiting for coffee in the sun, lunch of grilled panini sandwiches, or to shop for a few small items for home. Surinder, a quiet and unassuming host greeted everyone with a warm smile, and a strong comfortable presence. Strathcona community will be generously and wonderfully served by the new addition of The Wilder Snail. As for a local and convenient place to hang-out for a great cup of coffee, latte, buying a few groceries, or whatever your preference, there isn't anything else quite like it within walking distance. Welcome The Wilder Snail.

See more beautiful pictures of A Visual Treat of The Wilder Snail