Café Amicus Says Goodbye to Ron Edwards Family YMCA After 11 Years

After more than a decade of brewing coffee and building community, Café Amicus will close its doors at the Ron Edwards Family YMCA on June 21.

For many members, this cozy corner of the Y has been more than just a spot to grab a morning coffee—it’s been a place of connection, conversation, and comfort.

For Jin (Chinkyong Chong) and Sunny (Sunmi Bae), the husband-and-wife duo behind the counter, the café’s story began not with a grand plan, but with a chance opportunity. After immigrating from Seoul, South Korea, and searching for work, a friend from church introduced them to the café.

“At first, we never thought we would open a café,” Jin admits. “But when we came here, we found the environment was good and the people were friendly. We thought we could have fun working here.”

And so they did—for 11 years and 7 months.

From day one, they were struck by the warm welcome they received. “Our first impression of the YMCA was that the facility was very clean and well-organized, and also the staff and YMCA members were all very friendly,” Jin remembers.

That friendliness became the heartbeat of Café Amicus. Regulars gathered around the tables after workouts and swims, especially seniors who turned the café into a second home.

“We remember all the seniors who gathered together to have long conversations while enjoying coffee,” says Sunny. “Unfortunately, we don’t see too many of them after COVID.”

Still, the café remained a quiet constant at the Y—a place where birthdays were celebrated, languages were exchanged, and Korean culture was shared with curious members. 

“We sang happy birthday to some of our customers, exchanged words of encouragement, shared cakes and snacks, and even took part in personal events,” they say. “We made many special memories."

The relationships built here weren’t limited to customers. Many Y staff became close friends and loyal customers, too. “Some of the staff members have been regular customers of our café, and we’ve maintained a great relationship with them,” says Jin.

Now, Jin and Sunny are stepping away from the café to care for Jin’s mother, whose health requires her to live with them in Canada. Though this decision comes with a heavy heart, it’s one made from love and duty.

What will they miss most? The people. “The most regrettable thing is that because our English was not the greatest, we could not build deeper relationships,” says Jin. “But we are so grateful to everyone who was kind and generous to us anyway.”

For Jin and Sunny, the YMCA has been more than a workplace—it’s been a home. “Although YMCA is a place where people come to exercise, I think it is also a community where they build friendships and long-lasting relationships,” Jin says. “Because of this, even though we came far from our home country, we still felt the love and warmth of a close family.”

As the final coffees are poured and the lights dim on Café Amicus, the Ron Edwards Family YMCA will be saying goodbye not just to a café—but to two people who, for more than a decade, helped make the Y feel like home.

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