The last row of 鈥渕om and pop鈥� shops along Vancouver鈥檚 famous Robson Street will be closing its doors this summer, and in doing so, will mark the end of an independent retail era.
Between Granville and Seymour Streets, on Robson鈥檚 south side, you鈥檒l find a one-storey 1914 building that still houses Simon鈥檚 Bike Shop, India Gate Restaurant and Time Frame Gallery. All three independent businesses have been in their current locations for more than 30 years. Newer tenants on the block include Red Burrito and Vancity Weed.
Recently, they were all served eviction notices for July 31, 2019, citing a demolition clause in their lease agreements.
Simon Coutts has owned and operated Simon鈥檚 Bike Shop at 608 Robson St. for an amazing 33 years, opening in 1986. He is one of downtown Vancouver鈥檚 last standing true retail characters, always shooting from the hip and quick with a story or a quip. He loves to talk.
Some of his customers over the years have included Robin Williams, Matthew Broderick and Pierce Brosnan. Coutts could apparently match wits with all of them.
He isn鈥檛 surprised at being served notice and, even though the development application has yet to be approved by the city, Coutts considers it a done deal.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to happen,鈥� Coutts told me from his perch behind the counter of the bike shop. 鈥淚t only makes sense. This is an old building. Progress happens, and this property is worth so much money.鈥�
The property at 600 Robson was assessed at $28.7 million in 2018, more than three times its assessed value in 2015, according to BC Assessment. The shopkeepers say the land is rumoured to have sold for almost double the assessed value.
A few doors down from Simon鈥檚 Bike Shop, the family-owned India Gate Restaurant has been serving the theatre, concert and downtown business crowds for a remarkable 41 years. The Gupta family opened their doors on Feb. 1, 1978. They were informed of their upcoming 2019 renoviction by mail.
鈥淲e鈥檙e sad, we鈥檙e disappointed,鈥� co-owner Gurmeet Gupta told me after the lunch rush last week. 鈥淲e鈥檝e served three generations of customers here. Parents, grandparents, kids.鈥�
Gupta鈥檚 father, the charming Rachhpal Gupta, opened the restaurant with his wife after moving here from India. At 74, he still works the lunch rush alongside his son.
鈥淭his is our second home,鈥� Gupta senior told me with a warm smile. 鈥淭he rent has always been reasonable here.鈥�
Longtime property owner Murray Goldman recently sold the 600 block of Robson to Bonnis Properties, which plans to build a 13-storey office tower on the site, with roughly half the retail space along Robson Street there currently is now.
Time Frame Gallery first opened its doors on the corner of Robson and Seymour in 1977, making it the oldest shop on the block. New owner Christie Scott bought the business less than two years ago, and had no idea then that the building would be sold shortly after she signed a three-year lease.
鈥淎s the new owner, I barely got up and running. Now I have the added challenge of moving this whole thing.鈥�
Scott pays $17,000 a month in rent for her 2,000-square-foot space.
鈥淲e have to sell a lot of greeting cards and picture frames to make that, let alone pay the staff,鈥� Scott told me with a sigh.
I asked all three business owners if they expected to be given first right of refusal for the new retail spaces that comes with the tower.
鈥淚 have not been offered anything,鈥� Scott told me. 鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 care less, I don鈥檛 think. Apparently longevity 鈥� this shop being here for over 40 years 鈥� doesn鈥檛 count for much. This corner will probably become a Starbucks under another tower.鈥�
Coutts agreed, and suggested the rent they all pay now is far better than even directly across the street at newly opened eateries such as Meat and Bread.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e probably paying double what we are,鈥� Coutts said.
Bonnis Properties was contacted for comment, but did not respond by deadline.
The Guptas remember a time when Robson Street was filled with interesting little shops for blocks. Further along Robson, before it became a fashion district, the area was known as Robsonstrasse, a primarily European neighbourhood filled with schnitzel houses, delis, bakeries, international magazine shops, and independent bookstores.
鈥淲ith us leaving, everything on Robson will be corporate or a chain,鈥� Gupta junior told me. 鈥淲ith new towers come much higher rents. But there鈥檚 never been so many empty store fronts along Robson, especially in the fashion district, and they鈥檙e the ones who should be able to afford it.鈥�
Once evicted, the Guptas say they鈥檒l likely close the doors on India Gate for good after four successful decades in the neighbourhood. Coutts and Scott hope to find new locations. Scott has scouted Davie Street for Time Frame Gallery, aiming for a smaller space. Coutts has his eye on Library Square. Both feel it鈥檚 important to stay in the downtown core, as challenging as that may be in 2019.
鈥淎lright, yes, it is a bit sad to be leaving,鈥� Coutts eventually admitted. 鈥淚鈥檝e been here for so long, and I鈥檓 the last bike shop in the downtown core. But I鈥檒l negotiate, I鈥檒l relocate, and I鈥檒l still be downtown. I鈥檒l be OK. I鈥檝e sold bikes for a living to all walks of life for over 30 years. It鈥檚 an enjoyable thing to do. Do I look stressed to you?鈥�
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