Commercial Drive

Where to begin with describing the Drive? It's brash. It's got opinions. The pedestrians are anything but and will walk into the street as if every day is Car Free Day. Located in Vancouver's east side, the neighbourhood officially known as Grandview-Woodland has been the nexus of a wide variety of different ethnic and cultural groups since its heyday as a Vancouver's counter-culture scene. Since then it has seen waves of first Italian, then Portuguese, Latin American and East Asian immigrants settling and making the neighbourhood home. It's not so much a melting pot and more of a Jackson Pollock painting with each blob of paint be it Chinese, Ethiopian, lesbian, or crust-punk adding its own unique voice and presence to a larger whole.

Error loading image!

Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour

Address
1002 Commercial Drive
Website
Visit Website

Do you ever find you need both licorice and hula hoops but can't stand the hassle of going to separate stores? Well this is the store for you. My friend Dandilion (seen pictured) put me on to this place. They carry over 65 different varieties of imported European licorices as well as other eclectic snacks like cashew milk ice cream inside their cozy seafoam green store. Normally I prefer my businesses to be somewhat more utilitarian, offering a wide, cohesive and curated range of products. But the Licorice Parlour begs to be visited and celebrated for the pure folly of its existence.

Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour
Error loading image!
Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour
Error loading image!
Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour
Error loading image!
Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour
Error loading image!
Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour
Error loading image!
Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour
Error loading image!
Commercial Drive Licorice Parlour
Error loading image!

Figaro's Garden

Error loading image!