Grounds to Give Cafe Dabar gives customers coffee, computers, a few moments of peace and a chance to help others. by Heather Carroll   Second Cup, Starbucks, Timothy’s, Gourmet Cup. The perfect cup of coffee is as important to our daily contentment as another basic need - Internet connection.   Kudos to the one who decided to combine caffeine with computers. Now it’s possible to sip your cappuccino, surf the Net and chat with friends, all in the comfort of an Internet coffee bar.   Cafe Dabar (pronounced Devar) opened its doors to Edmontonians on Aug. 2, 2001. This latest addition to popular Whyte Avenue adds some high-tech flavour to an area known for its diversity and uniqueness.   From hip, Ikea-like furniture to original Bill Miller art gracing the walls, the cafe exudes class. Ten top-of-the-line Dell Pentium-4 computers are stationed along one wall; leather couches and chairs are strategically placed throughout the room, some near a glowing fireplace.   "The world is so hectic," comments Sherree McCarthy, 45, a regular at the cafe. "When I come in to the cafe everything seems to stop. It’s so peaceful and positive here."   Patrons sipping smoothies, indulging in decadent pastries or savouring the soup of the day, can peruse the Web or scan, print and fax their documents. Computer classes are also offered.   What makes Cafe Dabar unique among the growing number of Internet cafes?   "We believe God has a purpose for this business," says co-owner and University of Alberta student, Timothy Wan. The name dabar in Hebrew means "good news" and also "purpose."   "We want this to be a comfortable environment that people feel at home in," adds Wan. "Even with all the culture and excitement here on Whyte Avenue, people are searching for something more."   Wan, 21, Gordon Mah, 25, Christian Kim, 30, and Justin Jeong, 30, are friends and partners in this unique enterprise.   Most business start-ups require a substantial initial investment, so the hope is that it will one day turn into a gold mine for the proprietor. The four owners of Cafe Dabar, on the other hand, aren’t planning to reap any of the profits for themselves. Instead, they plan to donate them to various Christian organizations.   "This isn’t sound business sense," admits Wan. "We want to reflect to others what God has done in our lives."   "We want to make money for the Lord," echoes Jeong, also a student pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Alberta. "It’s the vision for our cafe ... to serve God and serve people."   Besides helping people who may never set foot in their cafe, this young foursome has a special desire to serve their Whyte Ave neighbours. "We especially want to make a difference to the younger generation and Whyte Avenue is where they hang out," adds Jeong.   Open weekdays from 7 a.m. till 12 a.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. till 1 a.m., the cafe has become a home away from home for many of the patrons. Some seek spiritual answers from staff or from Christian literature that’s available. Others just come to rest, reflect, read, and enjoy a cup of java.   With other jobs or schooling pursuits keeping them on the go, in addition to working numerous hours each week serving their customers, the four owners appreciate the opportunity to rest for a moment in the peaceful environment they’ve created for others.   "I feel as if I’m at home," smiles Wan. "I feel very blessed anytime I can just sit in here, look out and realize all that God has given us."   Cafe Dabar is located at 10816-82 Ave. Their website is www.cafedabar.com. [LLN-Online] [Adopt-a-Block] [Newsbriefs][Event Calendar] [Lifestyles] [Juke Box] [Cover to Cover] [Movieguide][Casting the Net] [Viewpoints] [General Info] [Rates & Sizes][Marketplace/Classifieds] [Volunteer Ops] [Writing Guidelines] [Contact Us] [Subscribe][Archives][Good News] [About Us][Links]