The Baker and Baron Café

Most people, once they reach their golden years, transition into retirement to enjoy the fruits of their life's work. But David and Barbara Goelst are not most people. Rather than acquiesce to a life of leisure, the husband and wife duo opened North Vancouver's Baker and Baron Cafe in May 2017.

From the crack of dawn, six days a week, both owners are in the kitchen preparing for the day's customers. Barbara, a.k.a the baker, is busy making confections and various baked goods from scratch while David, the baron, handles the butchery, preparing the meats for their fresh, hot daily sandwiches: roast baron of beef, chicken, lamb, slow roast brisket and their signature Montreal-style smoked beef sandwich.

But 73-year-old David doesn't stop there. He is currently in his fourth year at Capilano University completing his Bachelor of Communication Studies. "It's something fun and helps keep me young, and hopefully the café keeps us busy until we're too old to think anymore," quips David.

Barbara echoes his sentiment. "Running the café helps keep us young and our minds very active. I'm not having to question myself: 'Did I put sugar in the cake?'"