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Woodward’s Department Store -101 Years of Shopping for Western Canadians

Attention vintage fans – explore Canada’s vibrant past with its iconic department stores! From Hudson Bay, established in 1692, to Eaton’s (1869-1999) and Sears (1892-2018), our country’s history is steeped in retail traditions. But today, we’re shining the spotlight on Woodward’s, the beloved Vancouver and Western Canada institution, which graced the scene from 1892 until 1993. Join us on a trip down memory lane as we delve into Woodward’s rich legacy.

Woodward's Department Store logo

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase


1940s vintage photo from 1948 of a Woodward's department store truck parked by a Trans-Canada Air Lines plane at the airport

Woodward’s truck parked by a Trans-Canada Air Lines plane at the airport-1948

Brief History of Woodward’s Department Store

  • Charles Woodward established the first Woodward store at the corner of Main and Georgia Streets in Vancouver in 1892 (Source).
  • Woodward’s established a mail-order department in 1896 and published its first catalogue in 1897. “The Great Mail Order House of the West.” (Source).
  • On September 12, 1902, Woodward Department Stores Ltd. was incorporated, and a new store was built on the corner of Hastings and Abbott Streets (Source).
  • In 1926 a store was opened in Edmonton and by the late 1940s the company operated numerous stores in British Columbia and Alberta.
  • The growth kept happening and Woodward’s would become a central feature of the retail scene in southwestern British Columbia for much of the twentieth century..
  • Woodward’s gambled that malls were the wave of the future, and this was the driving force behind their new location in the Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver, which opened in 1950.
  • Woodward’s filed for bankruptcy protection on December 11, 1992, after a decade of failing to keep up with the changing retail landscape.
  • In June 1993, Hudson’s Bay Company acquired 21 of the total 25 Woodward’s locations in a $235 millions takeover.
  • On December 8, 2009, the Woodward’s Food Floor reopened for the first time since the chain’s sale to Safeway (Source).

For a full read of the Woodward’s history, visit the HBC Heritage website. To explore vintage Woodward’s catalogue history, visit the Canadian Museum of History.

Vintage Photo of Woodward's Store at Hastings and Abbott in 1902.

Woodward’s store at Hastings and Abbott. Source-Canadian Museum of History

Woodward’s Department Store History Thru Vintage Photos, Advertisements & Catalogues

Inside Woodwards grocery department in Vancouver in 1904.

1900s vintage photo of Woodwards grocery depaertment in Vancouver in 1904

Source: dailyhive.com

“Pineapple Special! $0.35.” The fruit department of Woodward’s Department Store in 1905.

1900s vintage photo of the fruit department featuring a pineapple sale at Woodward's Department store in 1905

Source: dailyhive.com

The Woodward Beacon

In 1927, Percival Archibald Woodward (VP of Woodward) built a 75-foot-high beacon to act as a giant billboard advertisement for the department store. The tower held a searchlight that threw out a two million candlepower beam which revolved six times each minute and could be seen from Vancouver Island. When the war hit he was told to remove the tower and the 16-foot W took its place (Source).

Photo – 1938

1930s vintage photo: The Woodward Beacon. In 1927, Percival Archibald Woodward (VP of Woodward) built a 75-foot-high beacon to act as a giant billboard advertisement for the department store. The tower held a searchlight that threw out a two million candlepower beam which revolved six times each minute and could be seen from Vancouver Island.

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

Image of the “W” that was replaced during the war.

vintage photo of the Woodward/s department store W beacon sign

Source: hbcheritage.ca

Woodward’s Spring/Summer Catalogue, No. 60, 1927, cover.

Further Reading: Archived ‘Vintage Catalogue Blog Posts from the Vintage Inn Blog

1920s vintage catalog / catalogue: A Woodward's Spring/Summer Catalogue, No. 60, 1927, cover.

Source: historymuseum.ca

1920s vintage advertisement for Canada’s Woodward’s Department store from 1927. Published by the Vancouver Tourist Association.

1920s vintage advertisement for Canada's Woodward's Department store from 1927. As published by the Vancouver Tourist Association

Source: Pinterest

The Food Floor

The chain was distinctive in that stores included a large supermarket known as the “Food Floor”.

At Oakridge Centre and Chinook Centre (Calgary), the Woodward’s Food Floor had a conveyor system from the cash registers out to a structure in the parking lot. Upon request, the bag boys would pack customers’ groceries into numbered bins and send the bins through the conveyor system. Then customers would take tags with matching numbers out to the structure, and more bag boys would load the groceries from the matching bins into the customers’ cars. This service was called the Grocery Parcel Depot (Source).

Further Reading: This book chronicles what it was like to work at Vancouver’s legendary Woodward’s Food Floor in the sixties

Vintage Postcard for Woodward’s Dept Store Vancouver British Columbia Canada featuring 'Canada's Largest Food Floor".

Source: eBay

Woodward’s Grocery Buyers’ Guide for Spring, No. 64, 1929, cover.

Interesting Fact:  In 1902, after opening its first food centre, the company also started to issue separate food catalogues (Source).

1920s vintage catalogue: Woodward's Grocery Buyers' Guide for Spring, No. 64, 1929, cover.

Source: historymuseum.ca

Woodward’s Fall/Winter Catalogue, No. 71, 1932-33, cover.

1930s vintage catalog cover-Woodward's Fall/Winter Catalogue, No. 71, 1932-33, cover.

Source: historymuseum.ca

Woodward’s, Ltd. – “We Sell Everything”, international “S” series panel trucks appear ready to deliver their goods back on September 24, 1931 (Source).

1930s Vintage Photo: Woodward’s, Ltd. – “We Sell Everything”, international “S” series panel trucks appear ready to deliver their goods back on September 24, 1931

Source: Pinterest

1944 photo of women and a man buying war stamps at jeep shaped booth inside Woodward’s store.

1940s vintage photo of people in 1940s hairstyles and 1940s fashions buy war stamps at Woodward's department store in Canada -1944

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

Photo of shoppers inside a Woodward’s in 1945, going up the escalator and looking at items for sale.

1940s vintage photo of shoppers in a Woodward's Department store in Canada, 1945 shopping and going up an escalator.

Source: Pinterest

Woodward’s Beacon “The guide to better value” parade float. 1940s vintage photo.

Woodward's Beacon "The guide to better value" parade float. 1940s vintage photo featuring women and young girls on the float for the Canadian department store.

Source: hbcheritage.ca

Women’s bathing suit window display from 1946.

1940s vintage photo of a Woodward's department store window display of women's 1940s swimsuits from 1946

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

Woodward’s Fall/Winter Catalogue, No. 100, 1947–48, inside front cover.

1940s vintage catalog: Woodward's Fall/Winter Catalogue, No. 100, 1947–48, inside front cover.

Source: historymuseum.ca

1940s vintage photo: Clover Leaf canned clams sampling display.

1940s vintage photo: Clover Leaf canned clams sampling display at Woodward's department store in Canada.

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

1953 vintage postcard from a Woodward’s window display in Vancouver, BC featuring a recreation of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Further Reading: Fashion Window Displays of the 1940s & 1950s

1953 vintage postcard from a Woodward's window display in Vancouver, BC featuring a recreation of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Source: eBay

“Woodward’s Christmas Gifts” as seen in a 1954 Christmas Catalog.

1950s vintage Christmas Catalog from Woodward's Department Store in Vancouver Canada. "Woodward's Christmas Gifts" and features a mother and daughter in matching robes and an illustration of Santa and a doll.

Source: Pinterest

1963 35mm slide of the parking lot and entrance of Woodward’s Department Store. So fun!

1960s vintage photo-1963 35mm slide of the parking lot and entrance of Woodward's Department Store.

Source: eBay

Pumping gas, at Woodward’s in Vancouver Canada 1966.

1960s vintage photo of a 1960s Gas Station at Woodward's Department Store. Image showcases a man pumping gas at the pump.

Source: Pinterest

I hope you enjoyed learning about this Canadian department store, as much as I did. I knew nothing about them until I did this post so it was a lot of fun to put together.

Liz Observation: I did notice that there was not a lot of content for this post compared to the big department stores I mentioned at the start of the post. The 1950s was especially hard to find and I was surprised on the lack of advertising. If anyone has any light to shed on this, please let me know!

Question Time: Did you shop at Woodward’s? Or have any memories you wish to share? Please comment below as I love hearing from my readers.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Vintage Coca-Cola Advertising 1940s & 1950s

I’m heading to Atlanta, Georgia this weekend (first time) to celebrate the engagement of dear friends and I’m excited to visit the World of Coca-Cola while I’m there. Why? Growing up I collected Coca-Cola memorabilia and I have always loved the vintage advertisements from the 1940s & 1950s. I’m team Coke!

Over here on the Vintage Inn, I have never done a post on these vintage Coke ads and I thought today would be a good time as I head out on another travel adventure.

Let’s take a look at what I found!

1940s vintage Coca-Cola advertisement from 1942 featuring an illustration of a 1940s woman with 1940s hairstyle and 1940s dress drinking a coke.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase


1940s & 1950s Vintage Coca-Cola Advertisements

Vintage Inn Tip: Looking for vintage fashion & vintage hairstyles inspiration for women or men? Look no further then these vintage ads. They are filled with great real life looks that you can 100% recreate ( I do!).

Planning a party? Coca-Cola is “The drink they all expect”.

1940s vintage advertisement featuring two young people in 1940s fashions at the food and drink table.

Planning a party? Coca-Cola is "The drink they all expect". 1940s vintage advertisement featuring a young woman and young man in 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles at the food and drink table.

Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop

1955 Coke advertisement featuring Mary Alexander, the First African-American Woman to Appear in Coca-Cola Advertising (Source).

1955 Coke advertisement featuring Mary Alexander, the First African-American Woman to Appear in Coca-Cola Advertising

Source: cocacolaunlimited.com

Take a look at this GREAT short video featuring Mary telling her story about this advertisement and other interesting facts about her life (video link).

1944 Coke advertisement featuring soldiers waiting to deploy for war.

Text: “All over America, depots are crowded with soldiers, sailors and war workers busy getting a big job done. Across the land, cheerful soda fountains invite you to pause and go your way refreshed with ice-cold Coca-Cola. At home and abroad, Coca-Colas is the high-sign of friendly refreshment for people on the go.

“Our fighting men meetup with Coca-Cola many places overseas, where it’s bottled on the spot. Coca-Cola has been a globe-trotter since way back when”.

1944 Coke advertisement featuring soldiers waiting to deploy for war.

Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop

1959 Coca-Cola print advertisement. “Take a Cooks Cruise with Coke! Delight guests with easy-to-fix dishes from abroad..and Coca-Cola, the World-Wide favorite!”

The Vintage Recipes:

  • Hawaii: Aloha Casserole (Shrimp & Spinach Casserole)
  • Sweden: Smorgasbord Sandwich (Boiled Beef Sandwich)
  • Italy: Pizza Italiana (Multi-Topping Pizza)
  • Mexico: Chili Con Carne Mexicali (Chili Beans with Corn)

Further Reading: Vintage Recipes from Vintage Advertisements

1959 coca-cola print advertisement featuring vintage recipes from around the world and coca-cola.

Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop

Malt Shops and Coke go hand and hand in the 1940s & 1950s as seen in this 1940s advertisement. Illustration by Haddon Sundblom

Further Reading: Vintage Malt Shops Images 1930s-1950s

1940s vintage advertisement for Coca Cola featuring an illustration of a woman sitting at a malt shop counter having a Coke

This 1954 Coke ad is confusing but also cute!

As you can see we have woman in a Dutch traditional outfit serving Coca-Cola to a car, with the tagline “Refreshing service for people on the go”. We also have small text talking about seeing “Eddie Fisher on “Coke Time” NBC Television next week”. Ok!

1950s vintage advertisement for Coca-Cola from 1954 featuring a blonde woman in a dutch outfit serving Coke to a waiting car. "Refreshing service for people on the go".

Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop

1940s vintage advertisement for Coca-Cola with 3 women in 1940s hairstyles and overall uniforms taking a break from their Homefront war work for a refreshing drink.

1940s vintage advertisement for coca-cola featuring 3 women in 1940s hairstyles and overall uniforms taking a break for a drink

Source: Pinterest

1954 Coca-Cola advertisement featuring Satchel Paige a famous Major League Pitcher.

1950s vintage advertisement: African American Satchel Paige a major league pitcher as seen in this 1954 Coke Advertisement. Vintage Black Advertising History.

Source: GannlineArtRelics

1942 Coca-Cola advertisement – Two women in WWII US Army Nurse Corps uniforms enjoying a coke.

1942 Coca-Cola advertisement - Two women in WWII US Army Nurse Corps uniforms enjoying a coke.

Source: Etsy-WrightSelections

1950s vintage Coca-Cola advertisement featuring an illustration of a woman holding a tennis racket and other illustrations of all the sports you can enjoy coke with.

Further Reading: Vintage Tennis Outfits from the 1920s-1950s

1950s vintage coca cola advertisement featuring an illustration of a woman holding a tennis racket and other illustrations of all the sports you can enjoy coke with

Source: Etsy-RelicEclectic

One of the other activities I’m doing while in Atlanta, is to go to a baseball game. I love baseball and it will be fun to see another teams stadium. Here is a 1948 Coca-Cola ad of men enjoying a Coke during a break in the game.

1940s vintage advertisement for Coca Cola featuring an illustration of men at a baseball game enjoying a coke

Source: Etsy-RelicEclectic

Fun at the country fair-1950s vintage ad.

1950s vintage Coca-Cola Advertisement featuring a woman in a 1950s dress at the country fair.

Source: eBay

“Hospitality…So Easy and Welcome”. “On warm summer days, guests like the terrace or the porch. Out of the family refrigerator comes ice-cold Coca-Cola”. 1940s vintage ad.

On a personal note, I LOVE the hair flower in our lovely hostesses hair.

1940s vintage Coca-Cola advertisement featuring a young woman with a 1940s hairstyle and a hair flower in her hair serving cokes to friends outside

I will leave you with the famous Coca-Cola Santa Claus as seen in this 1950s ad (1952).

Did you know? (visit Coca-Cola Company website for the full details on the bullets below)

  • Santa Has Been Featured in Coke Ads Since the 1920s
  • Coca‑Cola Helped Shape the Image of Santa (in 1931)
  • The “New Santa (1931 Santa)” Was Based on a Salesman
  • Santa Claus Got a New Friend in 1942 – ‘Sprite Boy’ (an elf)
1950s vintage advertisement from 1952 featuring the iconic Coca-Cola Santa Claus.

Source: Etsy-RelicEclectic

From the vibrant and captivating artwork, catchy slogans and to the unmistakable red and white logo, these vintage ads captured the hearts and taste buds of the world. I know I am a big fan and always will be.

Question time: Are you a Coke fan? Please share in the comments section anything fun you wish to share about this topic. I love hearing from my readers.

Further Reading: Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s (archived blog posts)

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz