“Developing a name for ourselves was the hardest thing at first,” says Rebecca Bertrand, co-owner of Laughing Bean Coffee. “Getting to know the community and showing them that on the front end, we’re sort of like a Mickey Mouse watch, always having fun and laughing — hence the name, Laughing Bean — but behind the counter, we’re very serious…the inner components of the watch are Swiss made, so to speak.”
Rebecca and Wayne opened the Laughing Bean after moving to Vancouver in 2003. Since then, two Starbucks locations have set up shop on east and west sides of Laughing Bean, sandwiching them in the middle.
“So another larger challenge was competition with the big guns, if you want to call them that…we like to joke about how we’re the cheese in the sandwich — the Starbucks sandwich,” laughs Rebecca.
Indeed, that cheese smells of quality competition. For anyone who likes their coffee locally roasted, with a side of homemade carrot walnut muffins, in a place that feels as comfortable and friendly as their own living room, they will find themselves at home at the Laughing Bean. The shop has a relaxed vibe and signage that humorously entreats customers to be on their best, or at least most polite behaviour. This is a no-fly zone for stress.
