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Tag: vintage Canada

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

Canadian Vintage Inspiration-Guest Blog Post Pt 2

Canadian Vintage Inspiration Blog Post of Vintage Fashion

Followers of my blog might remember that I recently paired up with Starlotte Satine Vintage to showcase her ‘Vintage Canadian Inspiration’ Interviews she was doing on her social media channel. It’s a project that is close to my heart, being a vintage Canadian myself and I’m excited to bring you Part 2 today (P.S. One of them is Me!). If you missed Part 1, don’t fear it’s right HERE.

About the Series:

Step inside the minds of Canadian Vintage life stylists in the modern world and find out what their passions, tips, and lives are like through my #canadianvintageinspiration hash tag! Once a week for #followfriday and #men’svintagemonday I’ll be posting Canadian vintage enthusiasts who are shaping the Canadian vintage scene and keeping it alive.

The Canadian vintage scene is much smaller than the rest of the world so I want to shine the spotlight on some of the amazing people who make Canadian vintage so great by showcasing incredible vintage fashions across Canada. I hope this project inspires others who are looking for fashion inspiration and to showcase homegrown vintage lovers. I hope to also give people an outlet to take bold risks with fashion and step outside their comfort zone.

First, up Steffi Kay.

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion

Steffi Kay is not only a connoisseur of vintage fashion but one of the only female mind readers/ mentalists in the world. You can see her perform with her partner, Mysterion as ‘The Sentimentalists‘ (P.S. They are amazing!).

Q. What do you wish to see more of in the Canadian vintage scene especially in Ontario?

A. If there’s one thing I would encourage in the visuals of our local scene, it would be to amplify the authenticity. A modern trend that has evolved rapidly with the growth of Instagram (and I’ve noticed has made its way to the vintage world of whimsy) has been to “stand out” excessively… it’s evolved to the point that every part of every outfit has become a “statement” piece. Which, of course, takes away from an authentic vintage look. Understated elegance and function has been forgotten thanks to fast fashion and immediacy.

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

Q. What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever received?

A. A valuable (and favourite) fashion tip I acquired was through a dear friend who lives across the street and has a wonderful little shop called “Frou Frou”. While shopping with my mother perusing his shop for the first time, I was maybe 14, we had found a beautiful tilt hat and I had no idea how to wear it. He noticed that the dress I had on had an asymmetrical design on the right and said “always keep the interest on one side”. It makes delectable placement without much thought for both accessories and my hair.

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

Q. What is the main thing you look for when shopping for that one special piece of vintage to add to your collection?

A. My eagle eyes go for Fashion Originators labels… they date the piece between 1932 and 1941… which I think is absolutely magical as most pieces are only to be dated by production knowledge and the trends of the year.

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

Q. Over the last few years your sense of style has really evolved into the ultimate vintage glamour connoisseur, what’s the main things that have inspired your sense of style and what are some tips you could share that you’ve learned while bringing your fashion game to the next level?

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

A. My sense of style is driven by my love for looking genuine… I’ve always collected old magazines for collaging (I only use photocopies to cut up!) so whilst growing up I was exposed to images that were a lot different from the modern gossip and fashion magazines. What I did notice was that although the images were carefully chosen and sometimes heavily (but primitively) doctored that the trends weren’t as extreme as the standards of today. Discovering a vintage look that is more convincing involves research and lots of mental notes. Using ones imagination is wonderful, but using the mindset of someone from the decade you love and THEN using that imagination will really get you somewhere.

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

Q. Being a traveling performer with the Sentimentalists and having vintage fashion play such a huge role in what you do takes up a ton of time and energy. How do you stay so glamorous on the road while staying true to your vintage lifestyle?

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

A. Some months I have multiple shows nearly every single day… but I have my process down to an art. That being said, I know how to give myself a break when I need it. I truly love exercising my vintage dresses at the events I perform at. Nothing makes me happier than framing my treasures properly. The volume of shows does make things get hectic but what I’ve learned to be glamorous in a pinch is a few easy steps:

1. Find an outfit you love, find a hairstyle that can come together quickly that also won’t come out quickly.
2. Do the classic vintage makeup basics (if possible, wear waterproof eyeliner and bring make up remover for your lipstick).
3. Footwear that won’t tire you out, and a shawl or beaded cardigan in case it’s f-f-f-freezing.

All of these things are PRACTICAL. Glamour doesn’t appear glamorous if you’re miserable. If you don’t feel confident in the outfit, you’ll be distracted from having fun. If you pick a hairstyle that gets disheveled easily, you’ll be worried about how the photos will look. The waterproof eyeliner and make up remover is to prevent mishaps and if you do have one (lipstick bleed from oily foods or rubbing your eyes only to smudge your non waterproof liner) that you have solutions that prevent some make up from “ruining” your look. Your shoes should not be the reason to say no to doing things… they are only beautiful if you can walk in them.

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

These are all tips to help accentuate YOU. It’s paramount to enjoy your outing and focus on feeling glamorous rather than feeling like you’ve forgotten something, that you need to take a fourth look in he mirror, or that you’re wishing you wore something else.

The more time you have the more you allocate to adding things on, but never forget the basics of comfort… because it’s hard to feel pretty if you’re too cold. Combining all of those tips with a vintage wardrobe is the golden ticket for a lasting impression.

Steffi Kay 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion Inspiration

Make sure you follow Steffi Kay on Instagram for a weekly dose of vintage glamour in your life.

Steffi Kay 1940s 1950s Vintage Fashion

 

Lastly for today’s post, it’s ME the Vintage Inn Blog! Check out my interview below (Thanks for letting me be part of the experience Starlotte!).

The Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Fashion Vintage History Vintage Life Lindy Hop 1940s 1930s 1950s

Q. How has Lindy Hop influenced your vintage lifestyle/ fashion and what got you started in swing dance in the first place?Vintage Inn Blog Swing Dancing Lindy Hop Vintage Style

A. I started swing dancing because for as long as I can remember I have loved the music from the 1930’s & 40s. My grandfather had a pretty awesome big band collection and I would always go thru his music when I would visit, and I would ask for this to be played and that to be played. It was a great way to step back in time for a few hours.

BUT it was not until the late 90’s when the famous Jump, Jive & Wail GAP commercial aired and the movie “Swing Kids” hit the theatres that I knew that Swing Dancing (Lindy hop) needed to be in my life. It would not be until almost 10 years later that I would get that chance, but another 10 years later, I am still in love.

Now my vintage style emerged from my dancing. I have always loved clothing from other eras and I would spend hours drawing my own designs of styles long gone but growing up in Sarnia, there were really no “vintage stores” and everyone just dressed pretty much mainstream, so I did the same.

It was only after I moved to Toronto for Fashion School in 1999, that my eyes were open to this whole new world of “vintage clothing”, but I still kept my mainstream style.

Then Lindy Hop entered my life in 2008 and I no longer felt comfortable heading out in jeans and t-shirts, I needed 40’s dresses, 50’s circle skirts (to name just some of the items in my closet), vintage hairstyles, the shoes and purses to match.

Once those clothes landed on my body, I 100% felt that I had found the “REAL LIZ”. it felt so very right and I have not looked back since (while I will admit that once in a while “mainstream Liz will make an appearance or two).Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Fashion Vintage History 1930s 1940s 1950s 1920s

 

Q. When did you create The Vintage Inn and what was your main reason for wanting to blog vintage experiences?Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Fashion Vintage History 1930s 1940s 1950s 1920s

A. I created the Vintage Inn because I am fascinated by the time periods between the 1920’s and the 1960’s. The history, clothing, music, etc. and I wanted to share my passion with others who might feel the same way.

I was also wanted to have a more Canadian component to my blog, which was often missed in many blogs posting about the same time period. So when you visit my blog, you will not only see vintage images from the 1940s, but you might also learn about where people went dancing in Ontario during the Swing Era and what classic movie stars were born in Canada. Topics like these are really why I wanted to start my blog.

Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Fashion Vintage History 1930s 1940s 1950s 1920s

Q. What’s your favourite piece of Toronto’s/ Canada’s vintage fashion history?

A. This is an easy one; it’s hands down the story of Veronica Foster, the original rosie the riveter. But in Canada she was actually called the ‘Bren Gun Girl’ and came BEFORE Rosie was invented. Veronica worked in the Bren Gun Factory right here in Toronto and became the poster girl for the Canadian Home-front Effort.Veronica Foster-The Original Rosie the Riveter blog post by www.vintageinn.ca

Q. What’s one place you’d recommend to someone wanting to travel to experience the ultimate vintage experience?

A. Oh, this a good question! I love travelling and have been to many places that have several wonderful vintage elements to them but I think for the purpose of this interview I would say, ‘Havana, Cuba’.

If you love Art Deco Design (which I do) and the 1950’s, then Havana is your place. Spend a weekend there, stay in the hotel where Ernest Hemingway lived for several years (I did), get a ride in an authentic 1950’s Bel-Air, walk around the Historic Quarter and look up to all the beautiful Art Deco Buildings towering over you, sit down in a bar and listen to the beautiful Cuban Music playing and then while drinking a classic Mojito, close your eyes and soon you can see 1950’s Cuba in it’s heyday. That my friends is a true vintage experience.

Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Fashion Vintage History 1930s 1940s 1950s 1920s

 

That is it for today but if you would like to read ahead and see the other Canadian’s featured thus far, please visit Starlotte Satine Vintage’s Facebook Page or Instagram.

In a vintage online buying mood? Then you have to check out the store’s Etsy Page HERE.

I hope you enjoyed the first of many in this series (thank you to Starlotte for putting this together) and if you know of anyone that should be featured please reach out in the comments below or via the social media links above.

Thank you!

Liz