Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[SpongeG]

there is a dennys at broadway and burrard in the old moxies (?) location. How long has that been threre?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

there is a dennys at broadway and burrard in the old moxies (?) location. How long has that been threre?

January 2015? Rockford was in there for a bit after Moxies closed down.

[SpongeG]

oh ok. i haven't been around the city in years

[whatnext]

Interesting, there is a development application at the old Sellutions store on the SE corner of Main and 16th to change the zoning from Retail C-2 to Restaurant Class 1. I didn't realize you needed a development app for that. Something called Calatrava Social House: Mexican Kitchen & Agave Bar:

http://development.vancouver.ca/pc3206main/index.htm

[logan5]

Not too many Mexican restaurants along Main Street, so a good addition. They're are going to re-do the facade and add a patio space, which is nice. It makes the pedestrian realm a more interesting place to be.

Was disappointed to see the minimal work done on the Starbucks facade. They should have at least added sliding glass doors for patio access, and be wide open to the sidewalk. They will be serving alcohol there now, so that set up would seem appropriate.

Main Street isn't quite in the same league as Commercial Dr., but it's slowly getting there.

Fraser St and Hastings Sunrise look like they are the next up and coming neighbourhoods.

[SpongeG]

drove past that little cluster on fraser and kingsway the other night, it was really busy and people were spilling out and hanging out in that weird little park there, nice to see its brought some life to that corner

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by logan5

Main Street isn't quite in the same league as Commercial Dr., but it's slowly getting there.

Fraser St and Hastings Sunrise look like they are the next up and coming neighbourhoods.

In what way is Commercial Drive in a higher league than Main Street?

[logan5]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

In what way is Commercial Drive in a higher league than Main Street?

I would say Main St has more dead zones than Commercial Dr. For example, the 4 story mixed use building between 15th and 16th Ave. This type of building only attracts a small range of businesses like insurance, travel agency, etc. To me, that's a dead zone. Same thing just a couple blocks away where there is a Shoppers and a large bank taking up the entire block. Dead zone. Commercial Dr isn't perfect either, but there is clearly a higher concentration of small businesses (bar/restos) that make the street more lively and colourful.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by logan5

Not too many Mexican restaurants along Main Street, so a good addition. They're are going to re-do the facade and add a patio space, which is nice. It makes the pedestrian realm a more interesting place to be.

Was disappointed to see the minimal work done on the Starbucks facade. They should have at least added sliding glass doors for patio access, and be wide open to the sidewalk. They will be serving alcohol there now, so that set up would seem appropriate.

Main Street isn't quite in the same league as Commercial Dr., but it's slowly getting there.

Fraser St and Hastings Sunrise look like they are the next up and coming neighbourhoods.

That's true I suppose, but Main is quite different. Main is essentially 2 streets south of 6th. Main north of 16th is busier with bigger buildings, but Main south of that point is full of small shops and fine grained retail. I prefer Riley Park to Commercial, and I would say that it has more interesting boutiques. It's certainly a much better neighbourhood for design/local shops.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by logan5

I would say Main St has more dead zones than Commercial Dr. For example, the 4 story mixed use building between 15th and 16th Ave. This type of building only attracts a small range of businesses like insurance, travel agency, etc. To me, that's a dead zone. Same thing just a couple blocks away where there is a Shoppers and a large bank taking up the entire block. Dead zone. Commercial Dr isn't perfect either, but there is clearly a higher concentration of small businesses (bar/restos) that make the street more lively and colourful.

I think the two are more in the same boat since I don't think neither has a more solid stretch of retail/restaurants. The only reason those wierd collection of small businesses exist on Main or Commercial is because they haven't been priced out of the area.

I would just make a case that development wise that Main Street might be adding more residents (customers) versus Commercial. And a new Broadway subway won't hurt things.

Commercial Drive has a better collection of cannabis dispensaries.

[WarrenC12]

Main St has more dead zones, but Commercial has more bums and street people. That kind of turned me off Commercial a while ago.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Main St has more dead zones, but Commercial has more bums and street people. That kind of turned me off Commercial a while ago.

Main has much more variety in terms of stores, though they are stretched out over more blocks. Commercial just seems to have restaurants, though even there Main has more variety. On the plus side for Commercial, it has two theatres (York and Cultch) in the 'hood and Main has none.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Main has much more variety in terms of stores, though they are stretched out over more blocks. Commercial just seems to have restaurants, though even there Main has more variety. On the plus side for Commercial, it has two theatres (York and Cultch) in the 'hood and Main has none.

Agreed that Main has more commercial variety while Commercial has more of a food and beverage concentration.

With respect to theatres, I'd go further and say that Commercial has five:

• The York
• The Cultch Mainstage
• The Cultch VanCity CultureLab
• Havana Theatre
• The Rio (a movie theatre, granted, but they put on enough of an eclectic variety of programming that it transcends cinema)

For Main, there's the Fox Theatre and arguably Little Mountain Gallery, but that's a tiny space and focused on comedy and improv, versus the somewhat comparable Havana Theatre that puts on plays. I'd add Cafe deux Soleils to the Drive if LMG were counted for Main Street.

Halls & Legions are a neat element for both neighbourhoods, with the Wise Hall and Legion for Commercial and the ANZA Club and Legion for Main.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Main St has more dead zones, but Commercial has more bums and street people. That kind of turned me off Commercial a while ago.

X2

The saying is 'when the DES sneezes Commercial Drive catches a cold'-it's not a safe/friendly place to walk in.

[Pinion]

Went to the new Keg in Park Royal, nice atmosphere/decor and the second floor deck will be amazing when/if we ever get nice weather again, but it took an hour to get a table for two even though we arrived at 6:20pm. I think they underestimated how much the north shore missed them.

[Klazu]

I have lived here for 5 years now and I have to say that I have never been to Main Street or Commercial Drive to eat or shop. I drive through them sometimes, but I never think about them as destinations worth the drive (and parking hassle). Perhaps I am missing out on soemthing.

[SpongeG]

you definately are, some great eats along main.

I saw an article today that IKEA may open cafes/restaurants in single non store locations because their food business does so well and 30% of the customers who go to a store go their for the sole purpose if eating. They did some pop ups in europe last year that did really well. So we may see some pop up here one day. I wonder what kind of areas could be good for them. Olympic village? kits?

I envision they have like a casual cafe situated beside a little market type hall that sells their little market foods that people really like.

this video shows the whole concept - the diy, the shop and the cafe. Its really a cool idea, cause they have great kitchen items.

• Video Link

a video of the diy pop up in london

• Video Link

[Pinion]

Main and Commercial are good for foodies but if you don't care about that they're pretty dull. Some people watching potential on Commercial I guess but both are pretty gentrified these days.

I lived on Main and 33rd when it was a bad neighbourhood in the 90s. It's come a long way.

[SpongeG]

non food must visits, vancouver special, a bakers dozen are my 2 favourite shops. There are a few good shoe stores but i forget the names. It used to be the second hand furniture antique row back in the 90's but those seem to have all moved out.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Main and Commercial are good for foodies but if you don't care about that they're pretty dull. Some people watching potential on Commercial I guess but both are pretty gentrified these days.

I lived on Main and 33rd when it was a bad neighbourhood in the 90s. It's come a long way.

I don't know if I would say Main Street has gentrified. There are still plenty of young people and this is still a party neighbourhood. Though the punkers are gone (their last hurrah was the house wrecking party at 12th and Watson that turned into the house completely burning down, then the riot squad came out to disperse the unruly punkers lol). The upper part of Main hasn't changed all that much. Fraser Street's right next door and is starting to take on that old Main Street vibe now, so I see it as the neighbourhood actually growing and getting better.