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The Eastender: The Drive is World Cup central

The 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament is just around the corner and Commercial Drive is arguably the best place in the city to watch the games.
Caffe Roma
Owners Gino Crudo (right) and Frankie Disalvo (left) say Caffe Roma will re-open in time for the World Cup. Photo Dan Toulgoet

The 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament is just around the corner and Commercial Drive is arguably the best place in the city to watch the games.

The Drive, fondly known as Little Italy, has endless cafes and pubs that never fail to draw in swarms of soccer fans during the World Cup and this year won’t be any different according to business owners and locals.

Caffé Roma on Grant and Commercial has always been one the hottest spots to watch the games. While locals have been puzzled over the cafe’s closed doors, owner Frank DiSalvo said they are doing an upgrade and will reopen in time for the tournament equipped with a full liquor licence.

DiSalvo recalled previous World Cups and recognized the importance of the venue.

“Caffé Roma has been a mecca for World Cup fans from all different countries over the years. This is the meeting spot,” DiSalvo said. “I remember in 2010 when Spain won, the whole street just lit up. Everybody wants to be part of the celebration.”

He said those games and the 2006 World Cup, when Italy beat France, caused the street to be shut down completely after thousands of soccer fans came to join the festivities.

“They just let us have a big party. They say there were 180,000 people on the street,” DiSalvo said.

Besides a large banner, he said they are hoping to get every country’s colours to honour all the different fans, but wouldn’t reveal what else he had in store for the month-long event.

“There are going to be some surprises for the games,” he said, “Different things going on for different countries. “

Another contender for best venue is Caffé Napoli, a more intimate space just a block and a half south of Caffé Roma that has always overflowed with spectators during the tournament. Owner Lina Cristiano has hosted World Cup events there since 1994 and expects a packed house for every game.

“I think people want to come to Commercial because it’s really lively and just a lot of fun. When there is something exciting going on like Italian Day or World Cup, people want to be seen and this is the place to be during those events,” Cristiano said.

Longtime Commercial Drive resident Liese Seaver isn’t much of a soccer fan, but can’t help but get into it during the World Cup matches.

“I always get roped in to watching the games when I go to pick up a coffee from Napoli,” Seaver said. “It’s hard not to with all the excitement.”

Server Stavroula Tardalis has worked at Caffé Napoli for the last two World Cup tournaments and said fans from all walks of life come there to watch the games.

“It’s like that Olympics feeling. No matter where you come from everybody loves everybody,” Tardalis said.

Cristiano agreed that the diverse crowd only adds to the fun. She’s already received calls for reservations, which she said are essential for anyone hoping to pack into the small café during the games.

Resident Sean Minagh remembered the last games and said finding a spot well before the start time was essential to getting a seat anywhere. He plans to watch most of the matches at the Charlatan on Commercial and Grant, which has three levels and flatscreen TVs throughout.

Falconetti’s is another venue that has been a fan favourite in previous years. Owner Carmine Falcone looks forward to a filling up the seats, which have nearly tripled since the restaurant’s renovations.

“We attract everybody here. We had flags from all the countries here last World Cup,” Falcone remembered. “Everybody’s welcome. Come support your team.”

He said that the cultural ties on the Drive make it the best place in the city to watch the games.

“People identify this street with soccer and I think that’s because of its Italian roots,” he said.

Other notable venues to catch the action on Commercial include the Portuguese Club of Vancouver, St. Augustine’s and Fets Whiskey House, but anywhere on the strip with a TV will likely be buzzing with excitement.

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