New Stores

It’s a bit dazzling for the otherwise dour Commercial Drive, but the aqua walls and wildly colourful stock of beach and casual wear in Exposure, at 1304 Commercial Drive, does lighten the mood after previous tenants, the D & K Hair Studio, cleared out. It’s an Australian invasion: most of the tank-tops, pants, and sandals are by Billibong, an Australian company, just like the new Cobbs Bakery up the street. This used to be Jang’s Confectionary in the 1970s.
 
Around the corner at 1720 Charles Street is Flower Box, also highly colourful, and gushing out onto the sidewalk with innovative arrangements and really helpful and knowledgeable staff. Check out the huge Monstera leaves you can give a friend for $5. They last for weeks in a vase too. This used to be the shady back room of the infamous Pofi Bar, at one time the centre of the city’s chess scene.
 
It’s not so new at seven years old, but Arán Spelt Bakery, at 1692 Venables (formerly a Panagopoulos Pizza joint), is only open Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, so it seems new. Spelt is a different species of grain that was not genetically modified in the Green Revolution, and so eating it leaves none of that weird, bloated feeling, or any other reactions, that people are increasingly getting with the usual wheat products. It’s also way more tasty.
 
 
Dandelion Kids at 1206 Commercial Drive has come to occupy the premises of what used to be the Hot Pepper Café, the best breakfast joint with the surliest service. Now it’s a place to get kid’s clothes, toys, and related goods of interest to grandparents on the way to visit the new one.
 
 
Frenchies is an odd diner specializing in Montreal-style smoked meat sandwiches at 1018 Commercial Drive, formerly Saveco Sporting Goods (a soccer store) and before that, the Grandview branch of the Vancouver Public Library. It’s all done up to look like a movie set for another sequel to Grease. But everywhere you turn, precariously balanced on ledges are glass bowls just begging to be smashed. The poutine is good though, or at least authentic.
 
Stella’s bistro has taken over where Santos Tapas Bar used to be at 1191 Commercial Drive, and has quickly become the political types’ hangout. It is perfect for that role: loud and boisterous enough that a conversation won’t be overheard, and not so loud that such a conversation can’t take place between four people around a table.