Historic Markets
TOSI ITALIAN FOOD COMPANY (624 Main) Operated by the Tosi family since 1906, it’s the oldest family-run business in the neighbourhood.
BENNY’S MARKET (598 Union) opened in 1909 as an ice cream palace; ninety years later it’s still run by the Benedetti family.
The UNION MARKET (810 Union) site started as the Gin Lee Laundry in 1913, but has been operated as a grocery store by Portuguese families since 1962.
The SUNRISE MARKET (378 Powell) has been operated by the Chinese Canadian Joe family since the early 1960s, providing affordable produce, groceries and tofu; today the Sunrise Soya Manufacturing Plant is Canada’s largest tofu manufacturer.
Historic Eateries
FOO’S HO HO RESTAURANT (102 E. Pender), the oldest Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown serves authentic Cantonese village cooking originating in the Pearl River Delta Region of South China.
THE OVALTINE CAFÉ (251 E. Hastings) under the landmark neon sign has been offering classic, cheap fare since 1942;
The PATRICIA CAFÉ (403 E. Hastings) opened in 1919 with a jazz band featuring Oscar Holden and Jelly Roll Morton;
A home for black entertainers during the Golden years of jazz, today PAT’S PUB AND BREWHOUSE still hosts live bands.
Historic Businesses
MODERNIZE TAILORS (5 W. Pender) Known for fine tailoring for all walks of life from movie stars to lumber jacks, Chinatown’s last tailor shop is operated by the Wong family in the shop opened by their dad in 1913.
MING WO COOKWARE (23 E. Pender), established in 1917, is one of the longest operating businesses in Chinatown.
CANFISCO HOME PLANT (North foot of Gore) has operated a cannery and cold storage facilities since 1918.
HASTINGS STEAM AND SAUNA (766 E. Hastings) was founded in 1926 to provide traditional Finnish style saunas for longshoremen and loggers.
The first LONDON DRUGS (800 Union) was opened in 1945 by Sam Bass, son of Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine; he dreamed of offering good quality at low prices;
ARMY & NAVY (36 W. Cordova) Founded by Sam Cohen in 1919, Canada’s original discount store is the last of the retail chains that started in Vancouver in the early 20th century.
BC SUGARY REFINERY (123 Rogers) Founded in 1890, Vancouver’s oldest industrial site is the largest sugar refinery in Canada.
Opened in 1957, the much-loved SAVE ON MEATS (43 W. Hastings) has resurrected as a butcher shop and diner offering cheap good meals.
Historic Gathering Places
Eleven heritage CHINATOWN BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION SOCIETY BUILDINGS (1901-1926) still provide services to the Chinese Canadian community today.
Established in 1906, the VANCOUVER JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL & JAPANESE HALL (487 Alexander) has provided Japanese language classes, sports and arts programs for over 100 years.
Built in 1928, the UKRAINIAN HALL (805 E. Pender) served as a community kitchen and infirmary in the labour struggles of the 1930s and today is home to music, dance and the city’s longest running folk orchestra;
STRATHCONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (592 E. Pender) is the oldest school in Vancouver; founded in 1891, it’s been nicknamed “The League of Nations” for diversity of its student population.
LORD SEYMOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (1130 Keefer) is the oldest wooden school building in Vancouver.
THE FLYING ANGEL’S CLUB (401 E. Waterfront), built in 1906 in the last remaining Hastings Mill building on site, provides a warm “home away from home” for Seafarers from around the world.
HASTINGS AUDITORIUM (828 E. Hastings) aka THE SILVER SLIPPER was built in 1928 by Societa Veneta; today it hosts flamenco dance and table tennis.
Opening in 1940 as the Croatian Educational Centre, today’s RUSSIAN HALL (600 Campbell) hosts events of all kinds.
The CARNEGIE BUILDING (401 Main) has served the community for over 100 years since 1903, first as a library and city museum and finally – after six years of bitter struggle to save the abandoned building by people who believed the neighbourhood needed recreational and social facilities – as a community centre and reading room.