Comments on: The Orillia (1903-1985)

By: John Sullivan

John Sullivan — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:41:07 +0000

Hi !
I have just put two “hospital – I think, chairs for free outside my garage at 33rd Ave & Quilchena, which I collected from the “Orillia” before it was demolished. I had sold the property to a HK Chinese investor who subsequently purchased the Ambassador Hotel next door and built Vancouver House office building.

By: James Roger

James Roger — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 23:59:10 +0000

In reply to Catherine. I was living in Calgary in the early 70s and had heard about Beau Brummel having great denim clothing. I was dabbling in recycled denim and fancy western shirts at the time. I found the store very inspiring and went on to a 30 year career in mostly custom clothing from denim to spandex. I have been living in Vancouver since 1984 and still have fond memories of that first visit to BB.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 02:58:04 +0000

Does anyone remember the clothing store called Beau Brummels in the Orillia? My parents owned but I can’t much information or photos of it..

By: Holly Diane Semancik

Holly Diane Semancik — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 00:46:02 +0000

In reply to james hourston. Love tht story!!!

By: JAN Graham

JAN Graham — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 02:25:28 +0000

In reply to Nadine. I have similar memories of seeing this building and feeling sorry that it disappeared.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 15:25:38 +0000

One night back in the early 80s I was walking past this building and there were fire trucks and firemen scrambling everywhere. It was difficult to tell where the emergency was but I found out quickly when a smoking mattress came flying out the second storey window and landed about 8’ from me. I lost a little faith in the fire department that evening.

By: Maid Marion

Maid Marion — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 18:43:40 +0000

Sunday tea dances at Faces. They were the best! Years later a health practitioner of mine told me he met his wife there, she was a go go girl dancing in a cage. I don’t remember the cages, but alas, there’s a lot I don’t remember from that era other than it was a ton of fun. Thanks for the memories Eve!

By: james hourston

james hourston — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 03:09:11 +0000

Oh where to begin. Firetrap for one thing led to its demise.
Faces was a bottle club. And private with the cliche peep hole where either you were granted entrance or denied. Mr Savage you must have been in the Castle or Ambassador.
I can not believe this building is more famous just for the fact Dr. Bonnies fav shoe guy started there with then partner John Fox in an
over the top clothing store caller Beau Brummel. With its pressed tin curved ceiling and denim padded floor and walls jean room. Fox & Fluevog was in the next section with $300 ( then . $1500 today) blue snakeskin platform’s. Faces was a place where 3 Dog Night came to after a show or stars looking to get high. One night a guy came up to me introducing himself as James Williamson. He was told I had ” dolls” . Yes, the term used in the must see movie Valley of the Dolls a Judy Garland expose in a way.
Reds or Tuies I said. Both so outside in the parking lot we went with 1/2 the totally uncool ppl at the bar. Deal done
Into the red MGB and down Seymour the wrong way. Why did you not intro me many asked? He did not intro himseld in that manner I said. It was Iggy Pop! I only had the pills as my buddy a DJ wouls lose track of how many and pass out on the turntable. Later he said where did my pills go. I sold some to Iggy Pop . Sure you did he said. Lol

By: Nadine

Nadine — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 03:46:16 +0000

Thank you Eve for confirming a memory for me. I remember passing by this building many times when I was very young in my parents car and wondering about it.

By: Jonathan Walford

Jonathan Walford — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 23:40:52 +0000

In reply to Skip Savage. The Robson 'entrance' was actually the fire exit. They sometimes opened it on busy nights to air out the smoke! You had to enter on Seymour, and usually sign in, because it had a private liquor license.

By: Skip Savage

Skip Savage — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 02:21:08 +0000

Eve, your book “Vancouver Exposed” is a home run!

Faces was a standard downtown bar as I recall. Doors on both Robson and Seymour, or am I dreaming that? No matter. It was a handy place to grab a beer. One time after a few rounds, we did something questionable, can’t remember what now, and they gave us the bum’s rush. Our group of guys decided to hang out elsewhere after that. Within a year developers tore down the building, unfortunately.

Another one bites the dust.

By: Elle

Elle — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:12:22 +0000

PS – The ‘Subscribe’ in the left hand column would not work. Three failures. Msg said to contact/notify the webmaster.

By: Elle

Elle — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:10:06 +0000

Just found this site. It’s wonderful. Thank you.

By: Brad Williams

Brad Williams — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 19:24:40 +0000

Eve, so very interesting. Much more fascinating and colorful buildings than the glass towers of this century. The houses of yesterday looked like mansions from another day and time. My mom told me that if you had a big house back in the day in North Van, it meant that it was built for a doctor.