Vancouver’s South Granville neighbourhood has suffered a net loss of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had a 4% vacancy rate in February and now we have a 6.5% [vacancy rate],” said Ivy Haisell, executive director of the South Granville Business Improvement Association, adding a 6%-to-9% vacancy rate is still considered healthy.
The retail district is home to about 200 businesses, but over the course of the pandemic 12 have moved in while 19 have moved out.
Haisell said limited parking continues to hurt the district to the point that most business can only be done from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Restaurants are struggling the most, she added.
“I would say they’re [businesses] concerned. It’s not going well,” Haisell said.
“They’re doing a really good job about maintaining their health. We haven’t really had any health scare in South Granville. Health, of course, is a very important priority but who can be sure who’s going be here at the end of all of this?”
Empty storefronts on south Granville Street, from 16th Avenue to West Broadway
•Want Apothecary, 2956 Granville Street
•2447 Granville Street
•Lole, 2621 Granville Street
•Mason J Fashion Boutique, 2623 Granville Street
•2665 Granville Street
•2715 Granville Street
•Plum (closed in 2019; currently undergoing new tenant renovations), 2799 Granville Street
•2227 Granville Street
•2843 Granville Street
•2845 Granville Street
•Town Shoes, 2865 Granville Street
•West, 2881 Granville Street
•Mr. Hobbs Barber Shop, 3065 Granville Street
On Granville Island, meanwhile, “the overall feeling … among retailers is fairly optimistic under the circumstances,” said Lisa Ono, Granville Island’s manager of public affairs, adding that the tourist hotspot reported its busiest weekend of the year from October 30 to November 1.
She said many businesses are shifting to online sales and relying more on local patronage rather than tourists.
“What we’re hearing from some of our retailers is that people are telling them that they’re rediscovering Granville Island,” Ono said. “Very few permanent businesses have closed or somewhat reduced hours.”
Closed
•Edible Canada Marketplace, 1596 Johnston Street
•Backstage Lounge, 1585 Johnston Street
•The Improv Centre, 1502 Duranleau Street
