About Us

I can still remember the first time I smelled fresh basil being transformed into Pesto. Sitting at the counter of an ancient cafe, peering into the kitchen, while my cousin worked her way through a prep list. The glass bottle of Limonata still feels cold in my hand. 

That visceral memory set off a chain of events that would take 25 years and an entire career in market-cafes to fully reveal itself. 

By the summer of 2020, I was living in Los Angeles and I had built up a rough framework for how I wanted Essential Provisions to work. 

I wanted a full scale market which could give life to a built-in fast-casual cafe. I wanted the experience of grocery shopping to be marked by a bespoke atmosphere and the smells of home cooking.

When I unexpectedly moved home to Vancouver Washington in the spring of 2022, I thought the concept would be shelved forever. However, thanks to a fortuitous conversation with a local shop owner, Essential Provisions the concept, found its way to then City Planner John Collum.

Since then a network of city leaders, developers, architects, designers and business owners have helped to  grow support for Essential Provisions. 

The amount of excitement and support that we have found within the Downtown Vancouver District is truly humbling. For which we can only say, thank you so very much and we hope to see you in person very soon.