Diverse, fun neighborhood

CYNTHIA RAMSAY

I lived along Main Street for more than 10 years and I still miss not being there, but I return regularly. On my last few visits, my shopping or dinner has been pleasantly delayed by chance meetings with other Jewish community members, also out enjoying what Main has to offer. There is so much to do in my old neighborhood that no one article could cover it all, so here I'll just highlight those businesses who supported the Independent in its special section in the print edition. Other bolded names are also supporters of the Independent.

One of the most well-known shop owners is probably Susan Heyes, whose maternity and women's apparel store, Hazel & Co. (604-730-8689), used to be on Cambie. Heyes successfully battled in the courts for damages caused by the construction of the Canada Line and Hazel & Co. now calls 4280 Main St. home. Hazel's sister store, Jools, is on Dunbar, also at 26th.

Hazel & Co. has been around 25 years and features locally produced and Jools collections that you can't buy anywhere else. The maternity collection ranges from nursing bras to casual wear to formal evening dresses. Brand names include MEXX, Premium Paige Denim, Dish and Spanx, and there are fashion rain boots, shoes, purses, bags, jewelry, umbrellas, scarfs and gloves for women, pregnant or not, as well as baby clothes, if you've already had your baby.

Heading north on Main Street is Nyala African Cuisine (4148 Main St.; 604-876-9919) another longstanding Vancouver establishment, having served up food from various African countries – including Ethiopia, Morocco and South Africa – here for some 20 years. The menu is enticing. For an entrée, there are many possible selections, such as Yedoro Tibs, boneless chicken sautéed in spicy butter with onion, green pepper and awaze (red chili pepper paste), for $16.95; and Yesega Watt, lean beef simmered in spiced butter, red pepper, onions, garlic, ginger root and spices, for $17.50. There are also several vegetarian options, including Tikil Gomen, carrots, cabbage, onions, ginger root, chilies and scallions, for $12.50, and Tofu Stew with red pepper sauce, ginger, cardamom and garlic for $13.50, as well as salads, like potato and beet, with red onion, white peppercorn, fenugreek and fresh herbs ($7.50). The desserts are unique takes on North American-sounding fare: the Cape Town Float, for example, features black current sauce and a sugar cane spirit draped over vanilla ice cream ($7.50).

Reservations can be made online but the award-winning restaurant is only open for dinner, Tuesdays through Sundays. If you find yourself on Main needing something to eat midday, other Independent supporters include Bert's Restaurant and Vera's Burgershack, both near 13th, and Solly's Bagels, on 28th.

Burritt Brothers Carpets (3594 Main St.; 604-879-8432) and Baker's Dozen Antiques (3520 Main St.; 604-879-3348) are almost neighbor. Burritt Bros. shares its location with B.C. Hardwood, so anyone looking for flooring can one-stop shop at two businesses with 100-year-plus histories. And in these cases, age is experience, not old-fashioned. Among its many products, Burritt Bros. specializes in an environmentally friendly carpet called Earth Weave. The all-natural carpet uses pure wool and natural adhesive, with no dyes, pesticides or stain protections, and the primary backing is made of hemp and cotton, with the secondary backing made of jute.

The Burritt Bros. showroom is large and pleasantly arranged. Burritt has won at least two customer service awards and there were toys near one of the desks to keep younger shopping companions amused.

Antique toys are a specialty of Baker's Dozen and eclectic doesn't even begin to describe the store. All three sections of it are filled to the brim with incredibly unique items, making it a place where you could probably find something for everyone on your Chanukah or birthday gift list, as well as something for yourself. On the widely affordable end, there are any number of trinkets, watches, old posters and remakes of antique wind-up toys, as well as many new tchotchkes. On the end requiring more financial investment, there are paintings, real antique toys and 19th- and early-20th-century pieces of furniture.

Keeping with the toy theme, Granville Island Toy Company (3298 Main St.; 604-875-0065) is full of fun and educational fare for newborns to adults. Recognizable brand names abound, such as Playmobil and Lego, and there are board games, puzzles, dress-up clothing, arts and crafts and science experiments. As well, Granville Island Toy Company – which also has a store in Kids Market on Granville Island – carries eco-friendly toys, such as PlanToys, Sprig Toys and Green Toys. Its website has some useful links and resources, including to KidsHealth (kidshealth.org), which provides doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence, and Parent Support Services of B.C. (parentsupportbc.ca), a province-wide network of self-help groups.

Also willing to listen and offer guidance, though on pharmaceutical matters, are the pharmacists at Pharmasave (#16-2949 Main St.; 604-879-1885), near the IGA at 13th Avenue. It's a smaller, welcoming drugstore, with lighting that doesn't blind you, like it does in some other drugstores, and because their volume of prescriptions isn't as high as bigger venues, counseling is promoted. There is a whole wall full of informational brochures to get the questions started, if you're not sure what to ask.

Gulf and Fraser Fishermen's Credit Union, or G&F Financial Group (#1-2949 Main St.; 604- 879-7131), is in the same complex as the Pharmasave. It's one of 12 branches in the Lower Mainland of the member-owned financial institution and it offers all the services you'd expect, from simple accounts to planning for your retirement and other financial advice, including services for small business owners.

And that brings us to the last stop, Vancouver Architectural Antiques Ltd. (2403 Main St.; 604-872-3131). VAA has been in business for 25 years and has a world-class collection of antiques. The store specializes in 19th- and 20th-century lighting that ranges from "early Victorian through the Esthetic, Arts and Crafts, and Art Deco periods," according to its website. You can check out their inventory online. At the beginning of this week, new arrivals included a small display case, ca. 1920, with original red felt lining and interesting inlay detailing for $2,800; and Courthouse stained glass windows, ca. 1912, which are actually from the Courthouse before it became the Vancouver Art Gallery, for $950. A Victorian chair, ca. 1900, had already sold.

The website noted that VAA is always looking for pieces to purchase and that people can call for an appointment or pop into the store, which is open Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. only.

Other Main Street home improvement-related businesses – and JI supporters – include Luxcious Furnishing and Upholstery near 3rd, whose work team has more than 30 years of professional upholstery, restoring and refurbishing experience; Ripples Kitchen and Bath near 17th, which is owned by Bill Schroeder, who has owned and operated Hillcrest Pumbing and Heating Ltd. since 1967; and Coast Decorating, near 29th, which specializes in Benjamin Moore paints. If you're just looking for something to brighten up your place, try Sickelmore's Flowers on 15th, which also has gifts appropriate for weddings, house warmings and baby showers.

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