THE TALK OF THE TOWN

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What Do We Have For You This Month?

Welcome to “The Talk of The Town” for August, 2025. Click on the following links to find:

  • West End News & Notes: A campaign to stop a hotel development near Lost Lagoon, and your community centre Fall Recreation Guide,

  • Word On The Street: Who’s opening, who’s closing, and who’s on the move.

  • West End Moments: Our community has many talented photographers, and we share their images that capture our lives and time.

  • Hidden Treasure Hunt: Be the first to email us identifying the location of this West End “Hidden Treasure” and win your choice of a $50 coffee shop gift card.

  • West End Street & Lane Names: Vancouver’s streets and lanes each has their own history. Here’s the story of Cardero Street.

West End News & Notes

John Streit.

EDITOR’S NOTE
”A Closer Look” On Break

The West End Journal’s “A Closer Look” columnist John Streit is taking a break, and will be back with us in the fall.

While John’s column did appear in the July issue (Crime Overall is Down in the West End: Davie Business Owner Believes More Action Needed) and the link appeared in our newsletter, it was inadvertently left off last month’s home page.

You can find that column here.

IS CITY HALL LISTENING?
Stop The Rezoning of 2030 Barclay

A grassroots citizen’s campaign is underway to stop the rezoning of 2030 Barclay, a quiet residential neighbourhood between Chilco and Lagoon Drive. The proposed redevelopment of the Rosellen Suites is asking to allow construction of a mid-block 27-story hotel tower with 270 rooms.

A POSTER OPPOSING THE DEVELOPMENT AT 2030 Barclay

According to the organizers, the hotel, with its traffic, noisy street-level outdoor restaurant patio, and rooftop party pool offering food and liquor service, will be very noisy and disruptive. These opponents say “this project would be outside the zoning and is simply another developer seeking to maximize their profits, with no regard for the character of the West End neighbourhood. The rezoning of 2030 Barclay Street would drastically alter the neighbourhood character we cherish, increase congestion and traffic, strain local infrastructure, and transform a quiet neighbourhood into a de facto noisy commercial zone.”

The campaign also contends that approving this hotel tower will open the floodgates to further high-rise construction and ignore the zoning that protects the West End and other residential neighbourhoods. For transparency, The West End Journal fully supports this campaign.

Visit the campaign website and learn more about this planned development via the links below.

RELATED LINKS:

your guide to fall programs at the West end and coal harbour community centres and barclay manor.

YOUR FALL RECREATION GUIDE
Programs at Your Community Centre

The West End Community Centre Association’s Fall Recreation Guide is now available online, and, if it hasn’t already, will soon be available at community centres and other locations in the ‘hood.

The Guide includes programs, events, and activities at the Denman West End Community Centre, the Broughton Street Coal Harbour Community Centre, and Barclay Manor.

In-person registration at the community centres opens at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12 and online at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 13. Make note of the registration number for your choice as listed in the Guide, as that will make registration simpler and faster.

STANLEY PARK ECOLOGY SUMMER HOURS
Pay A Visit, Learn A Lot!

Stanley Park Ecology has announced the summer hours at their Nature House, and you’re all invited to drop by and say hi any Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And while you’re exploring the park, keep an eye out for EcoRangers as these volunteers roam the park to greet visitors, answer questions, and share about the natural wonders of Stanley Park. 

Located on the south-east shore of Lost Lagoon under the viewing plaza at the north end of Alberni Street, the Nature House is a gateway to nature and exploration in Stanley Park. Explore their wildlife exhibits, examine real specimens, and stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the Park. Plan your trip with seasonal recommendations from their park naturalists who are keen to share their insights or answer your most curious nature questions.

And don’t forget the gift shop featuring books, cards, and stuffed animals.

Stanley Park Ecology (SPE) – a registered charity since 1988 – began as the Stanley Park Zoological Society. Following the closure of the zoo in 1995, SPE revised its name to Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) but continued with its aims of education, conservation and outreach programs. Recently, they’ve once again changed their name, dropping the S.

In June 1997, Stanley Park Ecology and the Vancouver Park Board entered into a Joint Operating Agreement that documents the nature of their reciprocal relationship. As the primary provider of land-based education interpretive services in Stanley Park, SPE’s role in the stewardship of Stanley Park is undertaken through a combination of education, conservationb action, and research.

Stanley Park Ecology also advises the Park Board on conservation issues within the Park with an emphasis on wildlife, habitat and species at risk.

Learn more here. 

(Frank Lin and Jenna Leith Photos)

Word On The Street

BURGER ZOGHALI
1072 Denman

After eight years at the corner of Denman and Comox, Gillaneh Grill and Restaurant has closed and was quickly replaced by a new and colourful storefront for Burger Zogthali.

Zoghali is a Persian word that translates to charcoal, and the new restaurant offers smashed and grilled burgers with charcoal aromas and smoky tastes. The menu also includes pizzas, wings, and salads.

A lineup around the corner and down the block awaited the grand opening of ARC’TERYX’s new Burrard location. (KDM Photo)

ARC’TERYX ON ROBSON
1001 Robson

After completely renovating the former long-time Roots location at the corner of Burred and Robson, a new Arc’teryx outlet opened last month. At 6,430 sq ft, the outdoor, sports, and active wear outlet is twice the size of the previous location on the adjacent block of Burrard.

The new location features an interactive map of Southwestern British Columbia Trails, where trails will light up based on activity, designed to inspire exploration of local trails. There will also be an athlete celebration window highlighting local athletes.

Arc'teryx is named after the Archaeopteryx, a prehistoric bird-like dinosaur, which symbolizes the brand's focus on evolution and innovation in outdoor gear. A Canadian apparel company headquartered in North Vancouver, it is known for its waterproof Gore-Tex shell jackets, knitwear, and down parkas.  

Roots has moved to a smaller location in the 900 block Robson.

Watch this space for a soon-to-arrive (we hope) selection of authentic french pastries. (KDM Photo)

PLAISIR SUCRE
955 Nicola

The sign in the window has promised a new adventure in French pastry for some months now, but according to management at their Arbutus location they haven’t yet set a date for the opening of this outlet, in the nook formerly occupied by Niloo Hair Salon.

With their first location opened in 2009, this will be the traditional French bakery’s second location. If it is anything like the original spot in Kitsilano, customers can expect fresh-baked French bread and pastries made daily, in addition to soups and sandwiches during lunchtime.

ARCHER CLOSES
Missed Rent Payments Cited

Archer, the West End Michelin-recognized restaurant, has closed its doors after 2.5 years of operation. Located at 1152 Alberni in a district dotted with luxury shops and high-end restaurants, the restaurant’s contemporary North American fare earned it a spot on Michelin’s prestigious recommended list in 2023. 

ARCHERR ON ALBERNI IS NO MORE.

Archer opened in 2022 with a selection of modern bites like sablefish with herb spätzle and seared five-spice duck, all served in an elegant 2,400-square-foot space

In a notice posted on the door the team called the closure “a bittersweet pause” as they “thoughtfully consider what’s next.”

Another notice showed that the restaurant’s lease was formally terminated by the landlord, for failure to pay “Basic Rent” and other financial obligations.

The lease, originally signed in January 2022, was amended five times between May, 2022 and January, 2023. The reasons for the amendments were not detailed, though frequent lease amendments in the commercial space often signal attempts to renegotiate terms, manage arrears, or adjust to financial pressures.

Archer joins a list of restaurants that had their leases terminated this year, including Tiko Pizzeria on Robson. 

It’s a tough business.

West End Moments

Our community is blessed with many avid photographers, documenting moments that alarm, amuse, and inform. Click on each photo to see the story. Send your latest photos to editor@thewestendjournal.ca.

Hey Shutterbugs! Have you captured a unique West End moment that you’d like to share? Email it to editor@thewestendjournal.ca and it could appear on our Facebook page or next month’s issue.

Hidden Treasure Hunt

IDENTIFY THIS PHOTO
And Win A $50 Coffee Shop
Gift Card

The first reader to contact editor@thewestendjournal.ca and correctly identify the location of this image will win a $50 gift card to their choice of Blenz, Delaney’s, Melriche’s, Waves, J.J. Bean, or Greenhorn Cafe.

So if you recognize this unique piece of art write in now! Only the winning response will be notified.

The answer, and the clue to the next contest, will appear in our September issue.

The photos and the information in the answers were originally published in TWEJ several years ago as part of our “Hidden Treasures” series by Vancouver author Dianne Maguire.

Our August hidden treasuree, “The west end gardener”. (Dianne Macguire Photo)

LAST MONTH’S WINNER!
Congratulations Kelsey Brodowich!

Reader Kelsey Brodowich correctly identified last month’s Hidden Treasure, “The Gardener” as a bronze sculpture by Nathan Scott.

Scott’s most well-know pieces are of Terry Fox (Mile 0) in Victoria, BC, 'The Homecoming', which is a sculpture commemorating the 100th Anniversary for the Canadian Navy displayed in downtown Victoria, and the bench people in Sidney, BC.

West End Street & Lane Names

West End street names were established when CPR surveyer Lauchlan Hamilton laid out the street grid in the late 1800s, and — while some are contemporarily contentious — they have remained. In 2017 the City started naming eight of the lane ways that run east and west through the West End.

THE SHIPS SUTIL AND MEXICANA, DURING THE DIONISIO ALCALÁ GALIANO EXPEDITION IN 1792 IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. DRAWING BY JOSE CORDERO

CARDERO STREET
Yet Another Spelling Error

In the past two month we reported that Barclay Street should properly be called Barkley and Bidwell should be Bedwell.

Another example of a typographical error gone viral, is Cardero Street.

Surveyor L.A. Hamilton’s draughtsman made an error in tagging this West End street “Cardero” instead of “Cordero,” after Cordero Channel, between East Thurlow Island and the mainland, which was itself named after José Cordero, who was, ironically, a draughtsman on Galiano’s ship the Mexicana. Valdes Island has a Cordero Point named correctly in his honor.

José Cordero was born in Andalusia, Spain in 1768. After joining the Spanish navy, Cordero was assigned to the Malaspina expedition that sailed from Cadiz in 1788.  Coming via South America and Mexico, they anchored in Monterey, California in 1791. While in Monterey he did several drawings in pencil, pen-and-ink, and watercolor of the colonists, Indians, flora and fauna. After a brief period in Mexico, he returned to Cadiz where he became a bookkeeper in the Spanish Navy Department.

SUPPORT YOUR WEST END - COAL HARBOUR COMMUNITY MEDIA

The West End Journal, including “The Talk of The Town”, is made possible by local advertising and monthly contributions from our Faithful Readers Circle. If you would like to support your community media, please visit our fundraising site here to contribute any amount from $5 a month up.

If you have a business in the West End / Coal Harbour neighbourhood, check out our advertising rates and information page here.

Thank you!
Kevin Dale McKeown
Editor & Publisher
editor@thewestendjournal.ca