Why corner stores may soon make a comeback in Vancouver

Good morning,

There’s something psychological about shifting from August to September that feels like the summer is over. But it’s good news for anyone in Vancouver who likes winter sports.

We’ve got an interesting story today about Vancouver’s potential plans to expand corner stores. I’ve included a survey further down. I’m hoping to collect everyone’s favourite community grocery stores and share the responses with you all. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover a new spot you didn’t know about.

Onwards!

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout newsletter writer

WEEKLY LOOKOUT

Big week: City has a busy week of meetings, with a council meeting and a public hearing on four rezoning developments on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on City Finance and Services on Wednesday and the beginning of public hearings on the Missing Middle Housing strategy on Thursday. [City of Vancouver]

DEVELOPMENT

Why corner stores may soon make a comeback in Vancouver

Could Vancouver be about to experience a corner store comeback in Vancouver?

What happened: The city is soliciting feedback from the public for ways to support and build new corner stores throughout Vancouver, as city staff look to support the creation of more complete neighbourhoods in the city, according to Global News.

The problem: A policy adopted back in 1980 limited any new grocery store expansion. The report by the city staff noted that these stores operated in a “tenuous regulatory environment” compared to other commercial zones.

• The city used to have hundreds of corner stores but that has declined in recent years to approximately 90 according to the city. In 2020, a motion was brought forward to council to look at reimagining and improving corner store expansion.

A store owner told CityNews one problem is they have to pay the same fees and operate under the same set of rules as larger businesses, even though their revenue generation potential is much more limited

The solution: The report from city staff back in 2020 breaks down a few different solutions:

• Fix zoning regulations to make the stores easier to open

• Allow grocery stores to open in more residential-zoned areas

• Allow more single-family and duplex zoning areas to have grocers present

Thought-bubble: One of the best parts when I lived in Chinatown was the multitude of community stories nearby. I could pick up gai lan and noodles at the Asian grocer, deli meats and canned tomatoes at an Italian corner store called Benny Foods, and yogurt and a treat at Tasty Market, all of this was within a three-block radius. Neighbourhoods like this are why people choose to live in cities.

• Dig deeper: To understand the impact of zoning laws on the layout and mixed-use potential of neighbourhoods, check out this comparison of Toronto to Japan, a country with very flexible zoning laws.

What it means: This is another example of how restrictive zoning laws affect the livability of cities. While we still don’t know exactly what the final policies will be, it’s an example of an ongoing trend of both simplifying and reducing zoning regulations to create more livable and diverse neighbourhoods.

• Share your feedback: The community survey closes Tuesday, Oct. 10 so make sure to share your opinion.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

💰 4: Vancouver’s spot in the rankings of the five most unaffordable cities in the world. [The Guardian]

🏥 700: The average increase in the number of emergency room visits this year in B.C. compared to past years, which continues to put a strain on the health system. [Business in Vancouver]

🔥 8: The number of units possibly damaged by a fire at an SRO at Granville and Davie on Friday morning. [CityNews]

🚢 18.5%: The decline in imports at B.C. marine ports in June compared to July, primarily due to the port strike. [Business in Vancouver]

TOURISM

A new plan to deal with Vancouver’s hotel shortage

What’s happening: A new city council motion will be debated this week about strategies to improve the building of hotels in the city, according to Urbanized.

Background: A study released by Destination Vancouver says Metro Vancouver faces a shortage of 20,000 rooms by 2050. Vancouver accounts for half that at 10,000 according to CBC and together means a tax revenue loss of $7.5 billion at all levels of government. Part of the impetus stems from major planned events in the future, such as the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

The motion includes the following strategies:

• Establish hotel building targets

• Expedite hotel application reviews

• Expand the hotel development policy outside the Downtown South area

• Expand mixed use developments, such as transforming offices into hotels

According to a study reported by the Vancouver Sun, the city had the most expensive hotel rooms in all Canadian cities, at an average of $234 per night. Demand is set to exceed supply by 2026.

What it means: The motion is likely to pass. Given the pressure expected on Airbnbs through the provincial governments' planned new regulations, and the city looking at cracking down on illegal units, price pressures will only intensify without increased supply.

NEW JOBS

Find your dream job in Vancouver:

1. Director of marketing at Maximizer

2. Corporate affairs manager at BC Hydro

3. Communications manager at Pavco

4. VP of brand management at Arc’teryx

5. VP of people at Thinkific

6. Vice president of product management at Mastercard

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted.

THE AGENDA

👮 Three people were stabbed last night at Light Up Chinatown festival. Police arrested the alleged perpetrator. The motive for the stabbing is now yet clear. [CityNews]

⚖️ A Vancouver police officer who hit a pedestrian at high speed in the DTES in 2022, an incident that gained widespread attention because it was recorded, faces three charges stemming from the incident. [Vancouver Sun]

👮‍♀️ Two people were sent to the hospital last night after a shooting in East Vancouver at East 28th Avenue and Victoria Drive. The victim and suspect knew each other and police have identified the shooter. [CityNews]

🛑 Coun. Christine Boyle issued an apology to Mayor Ken Sim’s new communications director and retracted her statements. Insiders can read more about Sim’s new communication director here. [Twitter]

💳 A breakdown of expenses at city hall shows Mayor Ken Sim’s office did not spend any money on outside consultants. The only major expenses were related to a trip to South by Southwest tech festival in March. [Business in Vancouver]

👮 Two people were injured in a shooting Saturday in East Vancouver near East 29th Avenue and Victoria Drive. No arrests have been made. [CTV]

🏙️ One year after Vancouver community leaders visited Chinatown in San Francisco to learn how they revitalized their neighbourhood, Chinatown in Vancouver is seeing improvements, with more garbage removal, dealing with social issues and more. Business and community leaders are cautiously optimistic. [Global News]

❌ Is West Vancouver being too lenient with households breaking watering restrictions? Data from the city showed eight percent of residents were using four times the typical supply of water in June, but the city has issued no fines compared to more than $160,000 in Vancouver. [North Shore News]

🏞️ Joffre Lake will continue to be closed until at least Sept. 15 as talks between the government and First Nations continues as they work towards an agreement. [CTV]

🧑‍⚕️ The first youth mental health outreach centre in the Downtown Eastside has launched in at 786 Powell St. [BC Government]

SPORTS

🏒 Loring Phinney is the new VP of communications and community for the Vancouver Canucks. He comes from Bell where he spent 15 years as VP of corporate marketing. [The Province]

🏒 Good news for Canucks fans — a broken hand and botched surgery that kept Tanner Pearson out for far longer than anticipated appears to be over, as he is now skating with teammates. He could be returning soon. [The Province]

SURVEY

In the midst of Vancouver conducting its own survey about community stores, I’d love to feature people’s favourite community grocery stores around town and why you love them so we can help others discover these places.

Head over to our short three–question survey.

EVENTS

Vancouver Latin America Film Festival | Cineworks, Cinematheque and other spots | Now to Sept. 17 | Explore Latin culture through film with multiple showings of award-winning moves | Various prices

Vancouver Fringe Festival | All over town | Now until Sept. 17 | Come see dramas. comedy, danger and more at one of the largest performing festivals in Canada | Various prices

Downtown Farmers Market | 750 Hornby St. | This Wednesday, 2 pm-6 pm | 25+ farmers and producers selling local wars | Free

Kiwanis Wine Tasting & Silent Auction Fundraiser | Creekside Community Association | This Wednesday, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm | Wine tastings to support support the 100th season of the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival | Tickets $75

Make Potsticker Dumpling from Scratch | True Nosh Shop, 1450 7th Ave Vancouver | This Wednesday, 4 pm-6 pm | Learn the technique and skills to make dumping (and vegetarian ones) from scratch (plus eat them after!) | Tickets $79.67

Women in Tech Coffee with Toast | The Coffee Bar, Vancouver | This Wednesday, 8 am-10 am | Networking event with like-minded women in tech | Free

*These are community submitted events. Submit yours to be included here.

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Start your day off with some good news:

In lighter news, a Vancouver architect who helped design the Woodward’s building has an art exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver until Nov. 12. His work looks at housing displaced people and reframes the refugee crisis as more of an opportunity to creatively live together. His company has been working with UNCHR Canada to fund refugee scholarships. [Globe and Mail]

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Michelin guide will announce new Vancouver additions Oct. 5. While we await which ones will join the list, you can see the previously selected ones here.

• The team who helped contribute to some popular spots like Say Mercy! and The Mackenzie Room are opening up their own restaurant Gary’s at 1485 West 12th Ave. They plan to focus on relaxed fine dining. [Scout]

• TransLink wants to hear from you about how you travel around Vancouver. [TransLink]

• Japanese bagel shop Wa-Bagel has opened up at 666 Burrard St. [Dished]

• The restaurant group behind Di Beppe and Ask for Luigi officially opened a new spot called Monzo Saturday. Expect an old-school diner feel with a modern twist. [Scout]

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

The SkyTrain can really be beautiful sometimes…

GAME TIME

Congrats to everyone who correctly guessed last week’s Vancouver Wordle. The answer was PIER.

Here’s today’s news quiz — how many corner stores are there in Vancouver? Reply with your name and answer to be featured in the newsletter.