169 East Hastings Street

The heritage value of 169 East Hastings Street lies in the historic relationship between this area and the economy of early Vancouver. At the turn of the twentieth century, this area of town was developed as a shopping area as commercial activity spread outward from its early roots in Gastown. As the young city grew, so did its commercial district. It was the home of several hotels, lodgings, and small retail outlets which were established to serve the growing blue-collar population.

Designed in 1904 by architect A. Pare for McDowell, Atkins, Watson and Co., druggists, this building is typical of the two- to three-storey buildings erected with a commercial operation on the main floor and accommodation above. Although the early residents of the area had been chiefly male, the development of efficient transportation links meant that families could journey to the new city. Businesses which served the needs of female clients soon were established. In this site, this included a fruit merchant and a clothing store. By 1911, the drug store was owned by Owl Drug chain, one of several outlets in the Vancouver area. In the 1930s, the site became a confectionery with a restaurant. In the 1940s, the focus shifted to men's activities with a billiard hall, a cigar shop and a shoe shine stand. This change in demographics illustrates the shift of family residential life to other areas of town while the seasonal resource industry workers continued to frequent this area.

The building's simple architectural design reflects the growing trend of public taste from the highly decorated Victorian facades to the more refined ornament of the Edwardian era. This building and its neighbour to the east are dwarfed by the much taller rooflines of nearby hotels, lending a 'sawtooth' effect to the skyline.