Overview
Address
696-698 W 16th Ave, Vancouver BC
Neighbourhood
South Cambie
type
Commercial
Protection & Recognition
- M: Municipal Protection
Description
Rebuilt in 2005, this 1909 Edwardian building was one of the first commercial buildings erected in the Municipality of Point Grey, which was established in 1908, before amalgamating with the City of Vancouver in 1929.
The building was erected in 1909 by J.B. Foley, a local realtor. The corner commercial unit at 698 West 16th was a grocery or confectionery store continuously from 1911 until the mid 1990s. The first store was the Samuel Barker and Sons grocery store. This was followed by a string of grocers until 1914 when it became the Heather Market, and then in 1930 the Heather Confectionery. From 1940-1965 the Beckett family operated the Heather Confectionery which became Beckett’s Red and White from 1960-1970. Once the Beckett family moved from both the residential unit and the store, the Chow family’s Golden Star Grocery and subsequently the Kim family’s Olympic Grocery carried on the store tradition.
The original plans for the redevelopment of the building in 2005 involved rehabilitating the original structure, but due to serious structural issues the building was dismantled and as much of the original exterior fabric as possible was re-used, including much of the ground storey siding, the dentils, and the grocery sign.
Little is known about the unit at 3208 Heather Street. The address only appears in city records as the James C. Bradley Beauty Parlour and Barber between 1927 and 1939, otherwise it is absent from city records. 3208 Heather Street redirects to 696 W 16th Ave in the City of Vancouver Heritage Register, where they are listed in the “B” category.
696-698 W 16th Avenue features large display windows adjacent the angled corner entry and decorative woodwork in the cornice. It occupies approximately one third of the site at the most westerly end, at the corner of Heather Street.
In 2009, 3208 Heather Street was a stop on the 2009 VHF Heritage House Tour.
Source
City of Vancouver, VHF 2009 Heritage House Tour Brochure
Map
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