238 E Pender St

This two-storey commercial building was designed in 1912 by G.W. Dunlap and owned by Thomas Allen, a local optician and jeweller. In the 1900s, the building was mixed-use with retail in the front and residential space at the rear- a common arrangement in Chinatown, often with upper or rear rooms.

For many years, 239 E Pender was occupied by Hong Yick Co. Meats and Vegetables while various residents lived at the back. These residents are unfortunately not listed in the older city directories by name, and are instead only referred to as “orientals.”

At one point the building was owned by On Wo Wing & Co. who were merchants with a business nearby at 114 E Pender St. Today Hang Loong Herbal Products Inc has been its occupant, in business for over 13 years.

This site is part of the Chinatown Historic Area, HA-1 in the City of Vancouver’s zoning bylaw. It is included in the Vancouver Heritage Register as a recognized part of the historic neighbourhood. Other similar municipally protected sites within a Historic Area are marked on the map with an O instead of the usual Heritage Register categories of A, B, or C. Some of these sites may be newer construction but are nonetheless still protected. For more information on the bylaw that governs the Chinatown Historic Area see: https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/zoning/zoning-by-law-district-schedule-ha-1-1a.pdf

Source

Vancouver Permits Database, VPL Directories Online