It’s official, juice can be sexy. Summer and Brad Dotinga proved that when they opened their first juice bar, Sexy Juice, in Abbotsford. When the business owners decided to relocate to Vancouver, they launched a small juice lounge on West 7th Avenue. And when they were given the opportunity to move to a larger space on West Broadway, the couple decided to expand their repertoire and developed a new café concept. After research and planning, Summer and Brad opened Olive + Ruby in September 2016. Not only is the bright Kitsilano café a project of love, it’s also an ode to the couple’s two children, Olive and Ruby.
Community collaboration was a core value from day one at Olive + Ruby. The café's glossy wood tables (including a large communal seating area) are all made locally by Spalt Wood. Vancouver artist Dana Mooney created the stunning 20-foot wall mural, while Brad punctuated white walls with vibrant green plants. Slowly, the bright and beautiful space filled in.
“Olive + Ruby is about fresh juice, real food and a welcoming atmosphere.” explains manager Tricia Pacifico. “We encourage people to sit together at the big table.” Tricia joined the team in October 2016. “I came in as a customer and saw there could be more to it. It’s a beautiful bright room, and I saw that the neighbourhood needed us.” The owners were in the initial transition period, one that can be overwhelming, Tricia adds, “After a few shifts they hired me to manage.” Originally hailing from Auckland, New Zealand, Tricia had previously worked at Kitsilano hotspot Annalena.
