Looking for something different than shopping at big box stores & spending time at chain coffee shops? Wanting to rep your hometown pride for White Rock, Ocean Park, Crescent Beach and South Surrey? Look no further:

Ethical Addiction offers modern, sustainable fashion and coffee in a vibrant community hub.  

Heck, it was our first time there and I ran into my mother-in-law & her gaggle of friends gathered at a table enjoying their tea! I instantly felt like I was back in my small home town— in a good way.

We quickly met owners Kelly and Larry Kristof, who have lived all over the mainland but settled in Ocean Park 20 years ago. Ethical Addiction opened in November of 2014 for custom and retail apparel and Dudes Coffee Shop became a reality in June 2017.

My son and I loved the shop’s quirky, grassroots, Steampunk vibe.  I was impressed with their dairy free options for his fruit smoothie, and he was thrilled that it was topped with an organic gummy candy!

Dudes Coffee Shop offers “The Most Sustainable Coffee in the World”: White Rock’s own Paradise Mountain Coffee.  

It’s an organic & Smithsonian-Certified Bird Friendly coffee plantation located north of Chiang-Mai, Thailand and supports local village community & schools. It also offers baked goods from South Surrey’s own Fieldstone Artisan Breads.

Kelly and Larry have always been passionate about the environment and how they can help.  They are conscious of the products they use and how/where they are made.  They wanted to give the community options to shop local and be environmentally conscious–without the stigma that it costs more to do so.

When you walk into Ethical Addiction, you will learn about their sustainable, high performance bamboo clothing, and how to be socially responsible for the purchases we make for ourselves and our families. 

Kelly and Larry started the business with the intent to show their children how important it is to be part of a community and to give back to their local and global communities.  Their biggest challenge they face continues to be competing with the big box stores and chains.

One thing’s for sure: Ethical Addiction continues to attract a devoted tribe of regulars who appreciate the quality and uniqueness of the products they offer, the great coffee & tea, and the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere… and the free wi-fi.

I can’t wait to go back to get their Eco One Bento Boxes for our back to school lunches!

Stay tuned to Ethical Addiction’s Instagram @ethicaladdiction to keep updated about its regular events, including: Village Markets, Paint Nights and Sip & Shop Wine Tasting Events with partner merchants.

All photos (excluding last two) by Christi LaLiberte: christilalibertephotos.com