One of the things people don't always know is the "history" of Naked.
Over twenty years ago, Bob started Naked Cyber Cafe with his son and it was opened on Whyte Avenue.
That was back when smoking was allowed inside businesses and when cyber cafes were new. In fact, I believe that Naked was the first in Edmonton and possibly in Canada.
The computers were busy 24/7, there was an open stage and shows from the very beginning. In fact, some open stage Thursdays wound up going for several days! Musicians would show up and play, followed by more!
Naked was definitely then, what it is (and wants to stay) - a "community joint".
Bob has always looked to provide just a local place that the "community" can call their own. People from the neighborhood who regularly drop by to drink a latte, talk about current events, use the wi-fi and maybe catch / play some tunes.
They'd regularly walk from Naked to a restaurant, then perhaps a bar or some dancing and then perhaps pop back to Naked later for a tea, dessert, or maybe a lan game or board game.
From the beginning, Naked has been welcoming and totally open with anyone. In fact, each of us (me included) and our various sexual orientations, genders, ages, religion etc. etc., have never even been considered. Which is the way it should be. We've always been just "us" and accepted.
After being on Whyte for a while, they opened up a second location on Jasper Avenue and 104 street. Eventually, the smoking bylaw came into effect, which effected a lot of local businesses.
In addition, more people were getting computers, laptops, and eventually phones with browsers - which had an effect on cyber cafes.
Still popular for underground culture, music, spoken word and more, but not as busy as they once were.
Eventually when the downtown business people were starting to consider/plan the arena and deciding to manufacture a 104th street "downtown entertainment district" that didn't exist in the first place, they started "cleaning house" of small locally owned "Ma and Pa" businesses, and kicked out Naked Cyber Cafe, Hole in the Wall Cafe, New City Suburbs, Front Page Mazazine... the list goes on!
In fact, I'm told that one of their representatives actually came into the cafe one day and said "you're not the type of people we want around here..." and didn't renew the lease.
Naked then, as well as now was a motley crew of artists, musicians, students, some street kids who grew up at the cafe, as well as professionals, all orientations, genders, colors and religions.
Apparently kids with green hair and the occasional safety pin through an ear weren't the "right type".
Bob was able to find a landlord who was very supportive of local business, and welcomed the "Naked Family" with open arms.
We even got control of the parking lot after dark, which is almost unheard of in the downtown core.
Through all this, from the very beginning, Bob's kept the music going, and supported local artists.
The Naked (Cyber) Truth
- The Way Things Should Be -