.
Based on the wonderfully detail inventory created by Penny & Steve, I note that we have the following breakdown of businesses between Venables and the Cut:
It is easy to see how successful the BIA and others have been in developing the Drive as a “destination”, rather than as the main street of a residential neighbourhood. I take that as a reasonable position for the BIA to have taken in the past, especially as the City was working hard to restrict certain businesses (furniture stores, appliance stores, automobile businesses come to mind) from inner-suburban neighbourhoods and move then into big box stores a car ride away.
But I think we are at the point now where the main street needs of the residents are being squeezed to bring in ever more restaurants and fast-food joints. Back in the 1980s and 1990s — not so long ago — we had a few dozen restaurants along the Drive. Now we have 92. While I welcome that diversity and availability of great food, I have to note that the last 40 or 50 restaurants have displaced 40 or 50 other different businesses that used to service the multiple needs of the people of Grandview.
Those are my thoughts on a snowy early November day. Here are some of the newest windows on the Drive (Images: Penny and Steph):
Jak's View of Vancouver v.3 
Fantastic analysis, Jak! :-)
Jak King wrote
” I have to note that the last 40 or 50 restaurants have displaced 40 or 50 other different businesses that used to service the multiple needs of the people of Grandview.”
Where as West 4th has more services than
food.
A wealthier street, and you can see by
our new tools like Streetview on GoogleMaps.
I would be curious as to the frontage measurements of the establishments, a measure of their dominance on the Drive.
Tape measures? Or more likely StreetView by GoogleMaps.
There uses to be City maps showing areal drawings of the Drive that could help one measure not only frontage, a simple measure, but also total area including the back of the store for further ‘importance’
I might try something with airphoto shots.
Surely the BIA has a set for their assessiments.
I miss Manitoba Furniture and Hardware.
Should be able to do it through VanMap.
I miss Kitchen Corner and Wonderbucks
Yes indeed to both.