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| Ycono |
If you are intensively trying to avoid Ghent’s red light district, you are actually missing a lot of nice places these days. Beside El Negocito, Café Costume, and De Vitrine, you should absolutely go and discover Ycono, a small coffee bar in a styish design setting. Ycono is a unique place in Ghent, not only for its location, but also for its atmosphere, sense of humor and guts. Since Edward Hostyn is both owner and barista we were interviewing him behind the bar, in front of the oven which was spreading delicious apple pie aromas.
Rosie & The Rabbits: Did you have certain expectations when you started Ycono in 2011? And, looking back on things, is it what you expected it to be?
Edward Hostyn (owner Ycono): I had a certain image in mind, yes. The original idea however was to make Ycono a lot bigger. I really wanted a gallery with an integrated coffee bar, but I just couldn't find an appropriate place for it in Ghent.
Rosie & The Rabbits: That leads us to our next question regarding the location of the bar; we assume it was not strategically chosen?
Edward Hostyn: No, it's rather a coincidence. Anyway, I live here so I wasn't "afraid" of this neighbourhood. It’s just an affordable and unique location at the same time. And since I don't want to focus on tourists - from a business point of view I don't have much affinity with them - so that's an advantage of this location.
Rosie & The Rabbits: Did this place bring surprises as well?
Edward Hostyn: Yes, quite some, daily actually! Contact with prostitutes, or mainly their messengers. Stories. Romanian prostitutes who cannot understand I'm gay. We once had a reception with friends at the bar and I hugged some of them when saying goodbye. One of the prostitutes then said to me when I was closing the bar that day: "you hug them but you don't hug me?". And ever since she wants me to give her a hug before I go home. I didn't expect the contact to be so "smooth" let's say. But now I really take advantage of the location, businesswise, for the decoration and naming on the menu for example.
Let's say ninety percent of the people still have to learn to appreciate this area. You have to accept that edgy aspect. Some would like the prostitutes to go away, but it actually gives Ghent a "metropolis" feeling. I'm really happy that this street is so diverse: we have an outstanding restaurant, a latino bar, Café Costume. And prostitutes and maffia. It is what it is, those contrasts are only interesting. I would never want to change locations anymore.
Rosie & The Rabbits: Do you remember the moment you knew: “now I'm going to do this”?
Edward Hostyn: I had been looking for the right premises for half a year when I more or less gave up. One day I parked the car where I lived and suddenly I thought: why couldn’t we have the bar right here? I still had to request a license, but not even a week later I had already signed the contract. I didn't even have a financial business plan at that time.
Rosie & The Rabbits: You focus on design; is everything at the bar for sale?
Edward Hostyn: Most of it is. You will only find things I like myself. We have for example a rather expensive vase; chances that I sell it are small, but I just like to show it. Artists are welcome to show their work here as well.
I have no problem with Ikea, but there are so many nice things that are not expensive but unknown to most of the people. There's so much nice work of young artists for, let’s say, 200€ and I prefer to buy those things instead of that typical Ikea New York skyline. That’s what I would really like to show and bring to others, but unfortunately I don't have enough space for that right now.
Rosie & The Rabbits: Is coffee, and perhaps more the cups and saucers, part of an interior?
Edward Hostyn: Yes, I think it is. In the beginning I was looking for china from Japan but it was too expensive for a small business like mine. We wanted the cups and saucers to be for sale as well, but I had to make choices unfortunately so today that's not the case.
Rosie & The Rabbits: If you would have had a complete different career, what would it have been like?
Edward Hostyn: I already had a big career switch from interior design to restaurant business. If I'm tired of the bar one day, then I'll close it, but the design aspect will always be present. I just don't get tired of it. One shouldn't be doing things that he doesn't like to do.
Rosie & The Rabbits: Do you actively look for artists who could show their creations at the bar, or do they contact you?
Edward Hostyn: It started with a friend who asked me, and then a couple of customers, and then there was March, design month, when artists were looking for a spot. For me, it could go even further than paintings or graphical work. If a fashion design student would like to organize a mini pop up store at the bar: be my guest! Another friend of mine is taking a course to be a florist and he doesn't have a very classical way of working; that would be an option too.
Rosie & The Rabbits: Do you still have future plans for the bar?
Edward Hostyn: I keep requesting a terrace for the Glazen straatje, but it's always declined because the fire department keeps disapproving it.
Rosie & The Rabbits: Aren't you afraid to become the new place to be in the tourist guides?
Edward Hostyn: Could be. Until now I always got good reviews, but mainly locally and some in Holland. I prefer to keep it low profile and because of that I don't really advertise. Of course that slows down the start of the business but it begins with friends who bring friends. And because of these friends it's an advantage as well as a disadvantage of being the bartender at your own bar. A lot of people romanticize having your own coffee bar. Until they realize you can't go to Antwerp during the weekends (smiles).
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| Pictures: Ycono |
