History of the Buddha
Smilin Buddha Cabaret Official
The Smilin' Buddha Cabaret at 109 East Hastings was one of those Vancouver places people still talk about years later. Music, punk, weird nights, scene history, street culture, and a lot of people who passed through that room.
This site carries some of that forward through apparel, prints, and artist collaborations tied to the Buddha and the people around it.
Archive Note
Some places never really close.
Artist Collaborations
Bev Davies
These pieces are made in collaboration with Bev Davies, Vancouver’s legendary photographer of punk, music, underground culture, and the art scene.
Bev was there shooting it while it was happening. A huge amount of what we remember from that scene came through her lens. Now, for the first time, that work is available as prints on canvas and apparel.
Those times might be gone, but thanks to Bev, we still get to see them.
Boy
Our dear friend Boy, who is deeply missed, left behind an incredible body of work.
Working closely with his son, who inherited the rights to his father’s art, we decided to carry that legacy on through clothing. Boy made thousands of pieces, and now we are tracking them down and getting them back out into the world.
Weird, sharp, unmistakable work. Wearable masterpieces.
The Story So Far
1950s–1960s
The Early Years
The Buddha opened in 1952 as the Smilin' Buddha Dine and Dance, inspired by Shanghai supper clubs. It started with a working-class crowd and slowly became part of Vancouver nightlife in its own way.
1960s
Rock and Soul
By the 1960s, it had become a stop for touring soul and psychedelic rock acts. Stories from the room only got bigger over time, including the one about Jimi Hendrix being fired for playing too loud.
1970s–1980s
The Punk Years
In the late 1970s, the Buddha became ground zero for Vancouver punk and independent music. D.O.A., The Subhumans, Dead Kennedys, and plenty of others came through. 54-40 played their first-ever gig there on New Year’s Eve in 1980.
After 1992
The Neon Sign
The place was known for its huge neon Buddha sign with the rippling belly. After the club closed, 54-40 rescued it from a scrapyard, fixed it up, and later donated it to the Museum of Vancouver, where it still lives.
2013–2019
SBC Returns
The space came back as SBC, part indoor skate park, part DIY venue. It kept the place tied to skateboarding, music, art, and community in a way that made sense for that chapter.
2020–Present
Closure
SBC closed in early 2020 under pressure from every direction. The room shut down, but the story did not.
That is part of what this project is about — keeping some of it alive.