Today, even though the income isn't what it used to be and not everyone has found the new location, we're slowly building up awareness of the place (directly across 104 avenue from Grant MacEwan).
A lot of young people today can tend to be "franchise kids" and go to Starbucks and other chains. Some though, are very aware of their local businesses and neighborhood and find their way to Naked.
Now, as it has always been, once they find Naked and realize what a treasure it is for downtown arts, they become part of the family. It takes a moment to realize how unique the place is and how it's a place they can come and just be themselves. Hang out in a big chair and keep to yourself, or head up to the centre of conversation and debate at the main counter.
I've learned a lot from Bob, despite being in retail and business for about 35 years (and thinking I knew it all). For example, when you have a business where you don't turn anyone away, you wind up with the occasional colorful character from the street dropping by for a coffee. Bob welcomes everyone.
In all this time I've never even seen him remove anyone in a "kicked out" kind of way. He's always been respectful. For example one time a visitor had obviously had way too much to drink, Bob said to them "you're always welcome here - just not like this." I would have been way less respectful and learned a lot.
When discussing it with him, Bob has always said that there are only a few things that can cause an issue. Walking in with say, a tray of Tim Horton's coffees and food (which to me seems so disrespectful - I couldn't imagine doing that myself!), or being an ass. That's it.
We've run into that a few times in recent history actually, where one or a couple of people walk in with their Starbucks, sit down and ask for the wi-fi. Myself, I'd go more ballistic probably but Bob talks directly to them about it. Most "get it" and purchase a dessert or something, and think about it for when they return, and they DO.
Occasionally we get one who gets all indignant, and runs off to make a 1-star Yelp or Google review to voice how traumatized they were, but most DO get it.
Bob keeps the place going with some of his own money and willpower to make sure there's an accepting place with a fully (and I mean fully) equipped stage with sound system, lights, many vintage instruments, (even a baby grand) for local musicians to jam with/use. The place is truly one of Edmonton's best kept secrets in the development of grass roots music.
After furnishing a place for young people to hang out for two decades, it's also one of the most caring places. Many of the original "kids" have grown up, gotten jobs and have brought their OWN kids to Naked. Many of them drop by to pay Bob back for money he lent them a decade ago, or for all the coffees he let "slide" for a young person.
I look after 100% of the online presence of the cafe and have been able to bring more eyes on the place and help with finding more bands and artists who use the booking calendar on our website, which is helping.
If our goal as a society is to progress to the point where we're all equal and our individual specifics don't matter, Naked is a bit of a blueprint.
When we all walk through the door, we're all the same. None of us care what color we are, what our orientation is, gender, age, weight, religion
When I walk in, I'm not "David the gay, married, polyamorous, pagan witch". I'm just "David" and I think that's how it's supposed to be.
--David Lee
Naked Webmaster