After closing last October, SBC remains in the memories of many Vancouverites as a pillar of underground culture
ALEXIS OLA ZYGAN Contributor PAUL CANNON Photographer
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For more than 60 years, the Smilin' Buddha Cabaret (SBC) carved out a multi-functional space that embraced a variety of communities, from 60s psychedelic rockers to 70s punks, and most recently, Vancouver’s skate community. Last October, co-owner Malcolm Hassin announced he would be closing the venue to the public due to mental health reasons. SBC embodied the intersection of music, skateboarding and art, fostering a space where "everyone was welcome” as graffitied above the front door. Smilin' Buddha Cabaret opened in the 50s as a nightclub and restaurant, and was known as a space that allowed working-class folks to relax and enjoy music, theatre and dance. SBC morphed into a rock n' roll mecca in the 60s, with Jimmy Hendrix and Tina Turner rumoured to grace the stage. In the 70s, SBC cultivated a budding underground punkrock scene that launched the career of bands like D.O.A and The Subhumans. Music enthusiasts would congregate in the venue to drink and listen to live music, watching as the punk scene in Vancouver unfolded before them. Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret’s new owners rebranded into SBC Restaurant in 2013, opening their doors to skaters of all abilities with the biggest public indoor skate ramp in BC. Up until their closure, SBC continued to host punk-rock bands every weekend and would allow inner-city graffiti artists to paint the venue once a month. As a homage to their punk
