A touch of nostalgia

Shanica Blair, Gleaner Writer

Asia's café is the new café on the block, which can be found in the middle of York Pharmacy in Half-Way Tree. Opened just a few weeks ago on December 15, Asia is serving up tantalising breakfast options, salads, sandwiches and an assortment of pastries and refreshments.

The entire pharmacy is now owned and operated by Serron Pharmaceuticals Limited, and is open 24/7. The café, which is one aspect of the revamping project of the pharmacy which has been in operation for over four decades, was named after one of the owner, Welsford Sinclair's youngest children - his daughter, Asia. The store which opened a day after its namesake's birthday offers patrons a wide variety of comfort foods on the go.

"The owners were brainstorming a name for the café, and the project coordinator and consulting chef, Leroy Myers, suggested that we use the name of one of the owners' children. The decision was made to named it Asia's Café," manager, Serena Cammock-Gumbs told Food.

Cammock-Gumbs told Food that there was a café in the pharmacy in the 60s and it was the place to be, so when they reopened a café there, it was kind of nostalgic for persons who used to come there.

"So because of that, we are offering some of the same things that used to be favorites back then, such as the double-decker sandwich, club sandwich, and jumbo malts. There also used to be a soda fountain here back then. We have to give them something that is familiar, so we opted to keep it in the pharmacy. The pharmacy opens 24/7, and so, we (Asia's café) are open 24/7 as well. As you can see, we don't have any doors," she pointed out. "There are doctor's offices on the building that are open 24/7, so any time of day or night, we offer a full service."

The café's menu offers a variety of comfort foods affordable to the Half-Way Tree demographic. These include breakfast, salads and sandwiches. "Some of our most popular items after just one week are the cupcakes, muffins, cheesecakes - that come in a variety of flavours; fruit plates; composed salads; also potato salads and toss salads that come with a choice of protein - chicken tuna or steak; chicken roti lasagna; and beef burrito," Cammock-Gumbs added

The café also offers a wide variety of assorted teas, hot chocolate, café mocha, cappuccino, café latte as well as several flavours of milkshakes, slushes, malts and other refreshing beverages.

With limited seating, the café is a grab and go, and all orders are packaged to go. According to Sinclair, their customers are their number-one priority, and their thoughts count. "We are still fine-tuning the café with the customers' influence in mind - a lot of suggestions from customers."