With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1501233
FOURTH PLACE The expansion of e-commerce row continues. A glut of direct-to-consumer brands have set up brick- and-mortar locations on Vancouver's bustling West 4th Avenue over the past year—the block between Yew and Arbutus spotlights just how the neighbourhood is thriving despite the economic downturn. By Stacey McLachlan B L O C K PA R T Y ( quality time ) 1 POPPY BARLEY 2144 W 4th Ave., poppybarley.com The newest addition to the block, the Edmonton-based ethical-fashion shoe brand now is slinging its slingbacks from a bright-and-airy new retail space. 2 MEJURI 2166 W 4th Ave., mejuri.com First launched as a DTC jewelry brand, Mejuri now runs physical showrooms across North America; the Vancouver location shows off all its modern-minimalist wares (gold chains, refined rings, classic hoops) and offers piercing services, too. 3 LULULEMON 2101 W 4th Ave., lululemon.com Of course the grandmother of athleisure has a massive presence in Kits thanks to its Cornwall HQ. And now the West 4th location is offering fitness classes in its in-house studio (as well as demos of its high-tech at-home workout tool, the Mirror, if exercising among the masses isn't your thing). 4 JOHN FLUEVOG 2156 W 4th Ave., fluevog.com If Poppy Barley's tastefully simple footwear isn't your bag, turn to Vancouver legend John Fluevog for shoes with some soul. The iconoclastic designer has been making wild and wonderful kicks for all genders since the '70s, and the pink-on-pink Kits shop is fittingly bombastic. 5 KNIX 2146 W 4th Ave., knix.ca Vancouver-based Knix got its start peddling sleek, stylish period underwear online, and has since expanded both its wares (find swimwear, workout gear, maternity duds and ultra-comfortable pajamas) and its retail footprint. Knix moved into this twice-the-size address from a previous Kits location down the street, and recently cut the ribbon on a Robson Street location as well. 6 FRANK AND OAK 2138 W 4th Ave., frankandoak.com Frank and Oak has its roots in Montreal, but the two-year-old Kitsilano location is the proud Vancouver flagship. Find sustainably made basics here (denim, striped tees) as well as fun seasonal offerings (floral-print puffer jackets). 7 49TH PARALLEL CAFÉ AND LUCKY'S DOUGHNUTS 2198 W 4th Ave., luckysdoughnuts.com The café and doughnut shop is a long-standing anchor of the ever- changing block—the glassed-in patio is ideal for taking a mid-shopping- spree break with an old-fashioned and high-octane Americano. n 2 7 6 5 4 3 1 YEW ST. ARBUTUS ST. W 3RD AVE W 5TH AVE W 4 T H AV E 114 BCBUSINESS.CA JULY/AUGUST 2023 49th Parallel Café and Lucky's Doughnuts John Fluevog Poppy Barley Knix