Five people shared the house, and I seem to remember the rent for the five of us was something like $90 for the whole house. We shared food and utilities, and I believe we each paid something under $100 a month for a quirky, though pleasant, life. The house had a backyard with an odd little fishpond.

Two businesses fronted the house, and though they are long-gone, there are still two storefronts in front. In those days, one was a fish-and-chip restaurant; memorable because my cat fell in the sump where the proprietor dumped his old chip fat–what a mess!

The second storefront was a novelty and sundries shop run by a mysterious fellow called Tommy. He seemed to live in one room at the back of his shop, which somehow adjoined our basement, where one of the five of us lived. All a bit creepy.

One of the first trendy Vancouver Greek restaurants, Orestes, was just down the block (perhaps where Nuba is now?) Several of our friends worked in varying capacities there. It was a casual enough restaurant that often staff and friends would congregate after-hours–and one of the pleasures of the period was breaking wine bottles into the backlane dumpster. Lots of noise late at night.

We were just across from the Hollywood Theatre, and on the next corner was a firehall. I had one of the two bedrooms with windows facing Broadway, and I can remember at first waking up every time there was a fire call–then later not even noticing. Also I can remember the humming of the trolley lines as the buses went by.

Interesting times indeed!

http://bit.ly/2xdHqfR

It’s at 3626 Dunbar, and was a sort of ‘corner store’ up until the 1990’s. Since about 2009 it has been closed and painted over. It looks so out of place amongst the other residences.

Another one is further south on Dunbar: 4455 Dunbar St.

http://bit.ly/2f3JeOr