Woodward 's Stores Ltd.
101 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
MUtual 4-5321
DOWNTOWN STORE DIRECTORY
Lower Main Floor
Woodwad's Food Floor Produce • Grocery • Candy • Bakery • Meat • Flowershop • Restaurant • Tobacco Dept.
Main Floor
Fine Jewellery • Costume Jewellery • Watches and Clocks • Handbags • Gloves • Cosmetics • Women's Accessories • Neckwear • Blouses • Sweaters • Men's Fursnishings • Men's Wear • Men's Clothing • Young Men's Shop • Men's and Boy's Shoes • Notions • Stationery • Books • Candy • Drugs • Cameras • Famous Hardware • Auto Accessoris
Second Floor
Ladies' Shoes • Young Boutique Shoes • Lingerie • Foundations • Children's Wear • Children's Shoes • Boys' Wear • Girls' Wear • Teen 'n Twenty Shops • Sporting Goods • Family Ski Lodge • Housewares • Kitchenware • Appliance Accessories • Fireplace Accessories • Electricals • Luggage
Third Floor
Woodward's Fashion Centres Millinery • Ladies' Dresses • Ladies' Sportswear • Ladies' Suits • Ladies' Coats • Ladies' Rainwear • Custom Size Sportswear • Custom Size Dresses • Fur Salon • Cosmopolitan Shop • Shop International • Chandelier Room
Young Vancouver Shops Junior Dresses • Junior Sportswear • Junior Coats
Needlework • Portrait Studio • Gift Bazaar
Fourth Floor
Draperies • Staples • China • Glassware • Silverware • Giftware • Pictures and Mirrors • Lamps • Hearing Aid Centre • Fabric Centre • Trim-a-Home
Fifth Floor
Furniture • Floor Coverings
Sixth Floor
Paint Centre • Wallpaper • Major Appliances • Toys • Music Centre • TV Centre • Entertainment Accessories
BRANCH STORES
Kamloops
Edmonton (1926)
Port Alberni (1948)
Westmount Shopper's Park (1955)
Edmonton, AB
Oakridge Centre (1959)
Vancouver
Chinook Centre (1960)
Calgary, AB
Northgate Mall (1963)
Edmonton, AB
Guildford Town Centre (1966)
Surrey
Southgate Centre (1970)
Edmonton, AB
Cherry Lane (1973)
Penticton
Mayfair Shopping Centre (1974)
Victoria
Sevenoaks (1975)
Abbotsford
Lansdowne Park (1977)
Richmond
Coquitlam Centre (1979)
Woodward's in Downtown Vancouver was about 700,000 square feet. While open, it was the largest store in Vancouver. The building was imploded, save for a small corner, in 2006 for a significant re-development of the site.
ReplyDeleteThe original store opened by Charles Woodward stands at the corner of Main Street and E. Georgia Street. The Hastings and Abbott store was #2, and was opened in 1902. It's unfortunate that the neighborhood took a turn for the worse, and the store had to close in the early 90's.
Anyone wishing to connect with former employees and reminisce about when Woodward's was alive and well there is a Facebook group (copy & paste to browser):
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/WoodwardsEmployee/?ref=ts&fref=ts
Does anyone know how I could find out who employee D861 would have been? sharonyoung9295@gmail.com
DeleteTo complete to your list of Woodwards stores.
ReplyDeleteOriginal Edmonton store 1926
Edmonton Centre (replaced flagship in 1974)
Park Royal 1951, West Vancouver BC (Canada's first shopping centre)
Port Alberni BC 1948
Parkwood Centre, Prince George BC, 1966
Market Mall Calgary AB, 1971
Lethbridge Centre, Lethbridge AB, 1975
Arbutus Centre Vancouver BC 1977 (Food Floor only)
Metrotown, Burnaby BC, 1979
Sunridge Mall, Calgary AB, 1981
Bower Place, Red Deer AB, 1981
Woodgrove Mall, Nanaimo BC, 1981
Royal Centre New Westminster 1980 (replaced original New West store)
West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton AB, 1985
Mill Woods Town Centre, Edmonton AB 1988
also chinook center in calgary alberta
DeleteI didn't know there was a Woodwards at Metrotown, where was it?
DeleteIt was the original tenant in the space that formerly housed Zellers, then Target,and currently Wal-Mart.
DeleteThe Food floor was where T and T currently is .
Deleteit opened in 1986, not 9179 as indicated above.
DeleteWoodwards wanted to open stores in the east. In 1961, Charles Woodward and Sam Steinberg (supermarket pionneer in Quebec under "Steinberg's") did built up and founded "Steinberg Woodward" department store. Two of them existed for a year under the said name. However, marketing issues, discrepancies and mismanagement has forced Woodward to remove his name. The departement stores were renamed "Miracle Mart".
ReplyDeleteI have a program for what was to be King Edward VIII coronation. Inside I found the actual receipt of 25 cents. I also have a square linen with embroidery lines (some parts finished) regarding Edward VIII. I don't know if the 25 cents is for both or just the program. Does anyone know where I could find out more information?
ReplyDeleteI was at Woodward's on Hastings & Abbott before it closed. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard it closed in 1994. It was unfortunate that the location wasn't the best place for it. The Store was great and the people where great. They knew the meaning of customer service.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Nancy Thormann. I worked at the Westmount Store in Edmonton for two years before the store closed. I was heartbroken when the store closed. It was the best job I ever had. Woodward's knew the meaning of quality merchandise and customer service. There's no other store like it.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Westmount, while going to UofA in the late 70's and after graduation at Northgate. My degree gave me an interest in marketing. I left Woodward's to help my Father set up another business. It was a shame that they went bankrupt.
DeleteRE: Canadian dept. stores such as Woodwards, Simpson's (with out Sears) and Hudson Bay Co.
ReplyDeleteAbout 20 or so years ago I found in a scrapyard in Vancouver BC a bread tin full of enamelled small appliance tags. Some had the names of the above stores and their in house brands on them and all were in pristine condition. Just lately I have started to sell them and have done research but there are many gaps. Can anyone shed some light on any of these bygone brands? I find these tags fascinating and would love to know more.
Sandy A
International Factory Sales on Powell used to import for all the big Dept stores. When things like sewing machines came in, we would put the brand names on like Woodsonia, Eatonia, Baycrest, all the same machines but different name plates.
DeleteDid anyone know a Mr.Jack Craven?
ReplyDeleteI remember the glass doors on the elevators with the friendly operators. I miss the doughnuts with the pink, green, blue icing sold in the food floors. It was a treat to go downtown for $1.49 days with my mother in the 60's and early 70's
ReplyDeleteI moved to Vancouver from Toronto in 1995, so I don't have any memories of Wodward's being operational as a store. However, IO work in film/TV and spent countless hours in the building as it was a popular filming location until it was imploded. I remember several times having stunt performers plummet down the (open) shaft which formerly held the elevators.
ReplyDeleteSeeing "Woodward's" listed on the next day's call-sheet was a guarantee of a long, cold night with junk-scum trying to steal everything we didn't nail down.
I have some sets of towels in the original boxed sets from woodwards in Calgary. I wonder if they are worth anything. They are brand new even have the fancy ribbon around them! probably go back to the 70's
ReplyDeleteDebbie
High River Alberta
So many good memories attached to woodwards at christmas..5th floor toyland,and the train..Woodwards windows at Christmas ...149 day tuesdays...it will never be same world.
ReplyDeleteMe too. My mum used to leave my sister and I on the toy floor while she did her shopping around the store. Different times...
DeleteI have some woodwards gift certificates is anyone collecting this stuff
ReplyDeletei remember 149 days and christmas floor and train, and had picture taken on santas knee there, which has disapeared..so many good memories and no pictures
ReplyDeletelynda
When I was growing up in Vancouver, we often shopped at Woodward's. I particularly loved the old glass-door operator driven elevators of various vintages, wish i could find a few photos.
ReplyDeleteHI: I am looking to acquire copies of Woodward's catalogs from the 1960s and 1970s for research on a book that I am writing. Do you know of anyone that might have these?
ReplyDeleteHi I lived in vancouver. As far as i know sears and eatons were the only dept stores who had catalogues.
DeleteI would be interested in connecting anyone who has information on where to find flyers or other historical information and pictures. I was a model as a young child and did some flyer shoots, and also my Father was a senior buyer for almost 30 years at Woodwards. I am thinking about writing a book about the history of this Canadian landmark, so any help would be appreciated.
DeleteActually the name is Woodward, not Woodward's
ReplyDeleteThere was also a branch in Prince George, B. C. but I don't know the year it was built. In it's latter years I worked security in the food court in the basement on Hastings St. After its closure, the front windows (on Hastings St.) were all smashed by a hover craft (for the making of a movie staring Jackie Chan).
The name of the store is Woodward's as in belonging to the Woodward family
DeleteThe stores were called Woodward's and the company was Woodward Stores Ltd.
DeleteThe store was called Woodward's (see the logo) and the company was called Woodward Stores Ltd.
DeleteWoodward's was my favorite department store.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone have a picture of the old auto center building that was on northgate parking lot? It used to be on the south west corner of the parking lot. Reason I ask is because my mom used to work there in the 70's. The building was uneque cause it was round :)
ReplyDeleteI worked at Northgate and knew a lady that worked there. She was transferred to Westmount.
DeleteI worked at Northgate, part-time in the shoe department, then transferred to Southgate when I was a student @ the U of A. I then worked full-time in personnel in recruitment and then staff training.
DeleteI worked at the auto centre at Northgate from 1969 to 1975, sorry I do not have any pics of the centre. Great place to work at.
DeleteAlso on the Fourth Floor in the original store was the Optical Dept.. My Dad worked there from before WWII until his retirement in 1990. There were 3 optometrists and a full service optical lab that provided completed eyewear for all the Woodward's stores. Charles woodward came in for his glasses and was a great, humble gentleman.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the downtown store while I was still in high school and at UBC. It was like a whole city inside with a giant bakery and mailing dept in the sub sub basement and all sorts of cool spooky places behind the scenes. We got all these giant boxes of clothes from China and split up the contents to send to all the other branches.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was their strawberry pie.
Yes and the root beer floats yummy yum yum...
DeleteAnd their rootbeer floats
DeleteI worked in the Men's Wear dept from 1975 to 1983... I have a profit sharing token.....I rememebr the old cashier Alice grumpling : ''It's me bowling night''....while I was serving a late coming customer...dear alice never missed her bowling nights......those were the good old days.
ReplyDeleteI just found three packs of lunch bags with woodward's on the front wrapping. It's always a treat to hear stories about the Woodward's building in Vancouver. Shopping there was the big outing for the week.
ReplyDeleteWhere in the WoodaRd store did you work in the 70s my mo worked in the restUrant and we lived out at badly Hughes. we took mom to work on sat. and wasted the day.we had lunch at the Deli and they had the most delicious sub sandwich.and best hot dogs then to then to candy store and got cheese popcorn and soap candy and then Saturday matinee then mom day was almost over and time to go homethe malts were the best.i
DeleteI WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ANY OF MY WORKMATE THAT WORKED AT WOODWARD's store in prince george b.c. see face book for my address. Rudy Persaud.
ReplyDeleteKamloops had a Woodwards, does anyone know when it opened?
ReplyDeleteNot sure but I worked there in the Food Floor office in 1972-73.I was very young. I loved that store.
Delete1968
Delete1963
Delete1963
DeleteIn Port Alberni you could drive through to pick up your groceries
ReplyDeleteI remember picking up groceries going through the drive through. It was a very special place in the 70s, especially at Christmas, and Woodward's was a sign of how bustling Port Alberni was during that decade. Quite sad to see it boarded up and still empty.
DeleteI grew up going to Oakridge in the 70's with my famly for our monthly grocery shopping. After groceries a frosted malt was sometimes in order but we ALWAYS visited the Candy Counter, usually leaving with 4 or 5 bags! Also, we would often split up and visit our favourite departments: tools, clothing and toys. An extra special treat was visiting the restaurant downstairs! Good Times.
ReplyDeletehttp://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261203025086
ReplyDeleteKiller Woodwards advertising item from 1910 - see above link on ebay.
In the Antiques Section of Craigslist, there's a new pair of Woodward's Beauty Gloves for sale.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for any remembrances of relatives that worked at Woodwards in 1929? I am looking for information about my Grandmother that I have just discovered.
ReplyDeletethank you.
I worked at Woodward's on Hastings in 1972 as a santa helper and later on in the pet and toy dept. We had a mascot guinea pig which we called Charlie. What a great place to work as a young girl, my favorite was going downstairs to the cafe for Toasted shrimp sandwiches on their famous cheese bread. Also as a child visiting the reindeer at Christmas at Oakridge, wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteA friend pulled out a pristine exercise book (ruled) from the early 70s. It has the metric system on the back cover and I remember them from when I was a kid in grade school.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was an electrician at the Victoria store until about 75 and then in Penticton until 82.
I remember the Surrey Guilford store - It had an ice rink as part of the mall. You could get some candy at the candy counter at Woodward's and watch people skate just outside the food floor.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember Woodwards in New Westminster being closed on Wednesdays?
ReplyDeleteAll stores in B.C. were closed just for the first half of the day on Wednesdays until 1959. I forget the reason why.
DeleteI started work in New Westminster in 1958 and yes, I remember Wednesdays being our day off. Never 2 days in a row off in those days.
DeleteI worked in the Hastings and Abbott store from approximately 1957 to 1962, then at Oakridge from 1973 until 1989, just prior to them starting to shut down. Would love to hear from staff from the General Office, or anywhere in the store, including the food floor! Pat Millsip (Daws)
DeleteI worked at the Downtown Hastings store right out of high school in the early 80s. Appliances, Housewares, China depts. Then went back to school up the block to VVI. Was standing just above the veterans memorial when they imploded the store. It was a sad day. Their is an excellent Woodward group in facebook with lots of ex employees and pics. Jason
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know "Susan" who was the Woodward's girl - for advertising - born in Victoria
ReplyDeleteGreat food floor but nothing else. High priced for the same thing you could get at the Bay, Eatons, Sears for less. Was an employee at Woodwards after working at Sears. Sears rocked, Woodwards sucked with archaic stupid beliefs like older or pregnant staff couldn't use a stool behind the cash register. What century did they grab that out of.Such rubbish in the late 1970's. Made people retire in the 1970's just before the profit sharing tanked. Not surprised they couldn't keep going. No staff orientation like Sears, etc. Wouldn't let women take any management courses because they would become pregnant.
ReplyDeleteI can see why someone as negative as you didn't last at Woodward's.
DeleteWoodward 's was great.
DeleteI worked in the Bargain Store, Market Mall and Chinook.
Brian
Who said I didn't last. I left and lasted 33 years with the same employer elsewhere, with several jobs increasing in responsibility and salary. How about you?
DeleteI totally miss Woodward's. It was our "go to" store. I have read that the Christmas display in Vancouver is now at Canada Place. Does anyone know what happened to the Toyland "Enchanted Forest" display from Edmonton Centre? It was an annual stop for us as kids. Just wondering if it was taken over by anyone else in Edmonton?
ReplyDeleteI am trying again to comment the last one didnt post. I worked at the Chinook Woodward's store in Calgary. Great memories of the store. We had a grocery floor that we could get our groceries bagged and put into totes or bin, and be sent on a conveyer belt down and out to the kiosk to get them put into our cars by staff!! Anyone know of 2 managers we had, Marv Anhorn? or Maurice Free? Maurice was from B.C and went back to either Burnaby or Surrey. Most all my coworkers have passed on, only 1 left I communicate with.. Great company
ReplyDeleteI worked with both
DeleteBrian Pollock
Can anyone put me in contact with Rick Barichello?
DeleteI loved the 1.49 day, but it was sooo so busy!! We could get a cup and saucer, Price Elbert brand. Cant recall the name of the print,, good ole days!!
ReplyDeleteHey anon hope you come back to this site. I also worked in Calgary a long time ago, Marv was my assistant. Unfortunately he passed away in April 2012. He was a very good friend.
ReplyDeletegive me a shout: vikingmail.ralph@telus.net
I worked with Marv in the Bargain Store, anyone know how to contact Rick Barichello?
DeleteSad to hear Marv passed away. Maurice is in BC. I'm not in touch with him but worked with his son Richard at Safeway in Surrey.
DeleteI loved Woodwards at Chinook Mall in Calgary .... I shopped there from the mid sixtys until the late seventys when I moved to California... and when I mean I shopped ... it was big time!!! And so did my mother ... we loved the gr
ReplyDeleteocery department .. it was really something... I really liked the deli and their do nuts ... they also had great deli sandwiches!!!!
I have a copy of the first issue of the Store Magazine called The Beacon dated July 1945. Some fabulous old photos inside with the first page showing all the four Woodwards men starting with the founder Charles Woodward, then W.C. Woodward, then P.A. Woodward and finally T.P.R. Charles Woodward (think he was known as Chunky Woodward). Has photos inside of the store at that time and the employees with a group photo of the 1945 Advisory Council. All super interesting stuff. I used to shop there with my mother starting in 1947 and remember it well right until it closed, this is the downtown Vancouver store I am referring to.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to trace Woodward Vancouver store employees or their next of kin from 1953 .
ReplyDeleteEleanor M Leroux and Martha Penner .
I have a photo of myself sitting on the Woodward's Santa's knee, it was taken by a Vancouver Sun photographer for the paper. I remember the train and visits to the sixth floor and toyland. Woodwards was an integral part of growing up in Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteThe Woodwards in Prince George, BC was the anchor store at the Parkwood Mall. It had two levels. The food floor, clothing, gifts etc were on the main - and furniture, hardware, toy dept. restaurant and post office (!) were on the upper floor. The building has been home to The Hudson's Bay Co. since Woodwards shut down. The original 1960s escalator is still in use there!
ReplyDeleteWas the best job I ever had as the chain had great respect for the staff it had. They valued you as an employee. You were not a number but a family and it did have that feeling. In my career I managed Northgate Auto Centre and Hardware and Garden Centre, I then went to Calgary and did the same and opened Sunridge Mall, then to Chinook Centre and Market Mall doing the same. At the end of my time at Woodwards I went to the Furniture Clearance Centre on Blackfoot Trail and then back to Market Mall and the Stationary Department and Camera's, Luggage and Linens and Domestics. I sure do miss those days we worked hard but had so much fun and all the staff were so wonderful. I hardly had a bad staff member at Woodwards as a Manager. Mr. Phil Jones was my last store manager and he was awesome. Ohhhh the good times it was the best of times.
ReplyDeleteMarch 12th Anonymous. mention Marv Anhorn was your assistant. I sent you an email, check your spam!! mattieblue@aol.com
ReplyDeleteDo you know Rick Barichello?
DeleteHi, I'm doing some research on Woodward's Food Floors and I was wondering if you knew when the term was coined? When did they start referring to it as the Food Floors instead of the grocery department? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the Edmonton (Alberta) center Woodwards' food floor,(in the basement); they had a counter where you could purchase individual pastries, and other food items. They sold a drop biscuit that had the taste of baking soda in it....I loved those....anyone know of a recipe that duplicates those drop biscuits of Woodwards??
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories of riding the rickety old elevators located in the centre of the store. Operators with gloves pulling the heavy gates and doors open at each floor, and one ancient elevator that must have been a carryover from the original building. As a boy, they were fun to ride. Wish I could find a photo.
ReplyDeleteIt was a cool place to work, especially for me working behind the scenes with merchandise coming in and going out: "3 dozen of these to Kamloops, 6 dozen to Southgate,....."
ReplyDeleteWorked Vancouver downtown store 1 in 1981. Started in Housewares 2nd floor John F. Then moved to Appliances, stereos, pianos and sewing machines. 51-43 and 51-44 under Rick N.. Then moved to China Dept 1-30 under John H. and Eileen G. Left in 85 to go 2 blocks away to school at VVI. Was geting paid in cash back then and had 20% employee discount. Sure miss the place and the building. Sad when they tore it down. Jason C.
ReplyDeleteat Oakridge, before the store became the horrible mall it is today, as an outdoor mall in the 70's, most favorite time was Christmas, getting my picture taken with Santa in his workshop, the reindeer, one year there was a contest to guess the weight of huge blocks of ice, the blocks of ice sat in the fountain, also a choir sang on the roof. We use to get our Halloween costumes at Woodward , in the box you'd get the costume and a mask $1.49 , I always wondered what happen to the Woodward letters across entrance, least we forget about the ice cream and malts... what do we have now, its called progress, I call it crap!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the Christmas display at the Calgary, Chinook Center back in the '70s with the fluffy pink and blue clouds and angels. Would love to have a picture.
ReplyDeleteyes I do, my favorite memory was the phones that had recorded messages from Santa, Rudolf, frosty the snowman, and others. My mothers best friend worked at Woodward's as a clerk at the Chinook center location (Joyce Penner)so my mom went there often and every year I couldn't wait for the Christmas displays to be set up, one of my favorite memories of that time.(early to mid 70's) unfortunately no photos either.
DeleteI remember and still have my Santa photos from the corner of 6th & 6th in New Westminster, BC. I also still have one of the Santa Buttons.
ReplyDeleteOn my wall, as part of my genealogy collection is the Appreciation Plaque that my Grandfather got for his retirement in 1969, after almost 40 yrs at Woodward's Downtown location in Vancouver.
I worked as the stock room clerk for the shoe department at the Park Royal south mall. I was there around 1981 as many of us made friends there I am trying to find one in particular her name at the time was Saraha Dixon not sure of that spelling she was a sales clerk in the same department, we were good friends and I always wanted to know what happened to her after as we never got a chance to exchange info before we parted paths any info would greatly be appreciated thanks.
ReplyDeleteI worked for Woodward's in Calgary as a shipper/receiver and had the privilege of helping to open the new Sunridge Store. It was a lot of work but it was great. Staff were wonderful and the Company was one of the best I've worked for! It was a sad day when this Company closed its' doors forever...
ReplyDeleteHey Scouter!
DeleteInfo sought Re: Woodward Guilford Mall 1967. Looking for picture or name of newsletter or Gazette published during Centennial year. Thank you in advance
ReplyDeletedoes anyone remember the Italian sandwich that the deli at Chinook Center sold, I would really like to find the recipe for them, my Dad used to bring bags full of them to feed us for lunch. they were the best
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I were just reminiscing about those sandwiches today. Did you ever get the recipe? They were fantastic
DeleteI haven't found the recipe yet, but I did find and order a recipe book by Mona Brun. it has 500 recipes from woodwards in it, I hope its in there. I will post if it is
DeleteAnyone on here that are looking for other Woodwardites : there is a group on Facebook for you!
ReplyDeleteYou can reconnect and reminisce with others and even share your photos or look at the collection of everything Woodward's there!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WoodwardsEmployee/?ref=ts&fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WoodwardsEmployee/?ref=ts&fref=ts
ReplyDeleteI worked at Woodwards from 1990 to 1993. I just want to see if I can post something here without having a Google Account.
ReplyDeleteThe Valley Room. Good eats. New Westminster Woodward's. 1963 ... fish and chips 75 cents. Chocolate Milkshake made in the old green machine ... enough for two glasses full for 25 cents. They had a doughnut machine on food floor and sold misshaped doughnuts for 35 cents a bag. We would bump the machine a few times going into the store and pick up fresh bag of misshaped on the way out. I was 12 years old in 63 and that store was a huge part of my life. November 23 1963 I was having lunch just across the street at the Dairy Queen when we heard that President Kennedy had been shot. They tore down a perfectly good store. In fact, that particular store was almost perfect.
ReplyDeleteI have a print of the General Store at Douglas Lake Ranch signed by C Rock would anyone be interested Also have a brick from the Vancouver store and a bag check tag number 09053. My deceased husband worked at the ranch in the store in 1962. If interested contact me 9337732@telus.net
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for images of 1970-190 era Woodwards Stores Delivery Trucks. Any idea's where to find images?
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize the stores were only BC & Alberta _being from Alberta & moving to BC - still have the bedroom suite I bought at the Park Royal Woodwards in 1975 - my husband grew up in Kitsilano & went by bus with his mother to buy groceries at downtown Woodwards. When we had children we would make the trip from Langley to the Stanley Park Christmas Train & then the Woodwards windows
ReplyDeleteDo you know anyone who has images of Woodward's delivery Trucks
ReplyDeleteI am a collector of anything Woodward items I was born in B C but now reside in Winnipeg I can be contacted larryk1950@outlook.com
ReplyDeleteI AM A COLLECTOR OF WOODWARD ITEMS WILL PURCHASE MOST ANYTHING I LIVE IN WINNIPEG I WAS BORN IN B.C.AND REMEMBER SHOPPING IN NEW WESTMINISTER & SURREY STORES GREAT STORE TO SHOP LARRY
ReplyDeleteSORRY I DID NOT LEAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS larryk1950@outlook.com WOODWARDS COLLECTOR LARRY
ReplyDeleteHi I worked at Oakridge woodwards in the automotive and Beaver gas bar. Made so many friends and loved setting up for $1.49 day also as a kid remembering the real reindeer and Santa house at Xmas
ReplyDeleteI have such fond childhood memories of Woodwards in Kamloops, both downtown and when they moved to Aberdeen mall. Nice to see I am not alone on this
ReplyDeleteI have about a dozen Beacon magazines from the 70's I'd like to give to someone who would appreciate them. Is there a good home out there? I'll check this post weekly.
ReplyDeleteThanks
I have a medal that was my mom's as she worked for Woodwards in Vancouver. The medal says: Woodward Stores Ltd. and the date is 1937. My mom was in the Choir for Woodward Stores so I wonder if she received it for that? There are litters on the front that are: G V S S A A on the left side, and the letters: G V A A on the right side. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteRussell Jung, my mom worked at Oakridge for many years. She worked at the Service Station as their Cashier in the little cubby that stuck out from the station. She retired around 1986 or maybe a couple years before. I worked at the Kreskies (sp) when I was like 16-17 and made the best milk shakes and floats that they'd ever had...(so I was told) Which probably led to my being called up on the carpet and told NOT to put so much ice cream in the shakes and floats!
ReplyDeleteI remember coming from North Kamlooops crossing the new Overlander Bridge and driving by the new Woodward's construction site. Lange was the contractor who I believe was building the new city hall RCMP next door. We moved into our new house late 1963 on McIntosh Heights as it was called back then. It was the second finished house, the first one had the manager of Woodward's living there. And the next manager lived there too.
ReplyDeleteIn the late 1950, as young toddler my mom and I took the Main #3 bus to downtown Vancouver, she would treat me to an orange milkshake in the lower basement. They were so good and didn't taste like anybody elses. My wife made a drnk called a Creamcycle which had pear liquor in it, it reminded me so much of that flavor of the orange milkshake I used to have
My grandparents, Harry and Ena Matthews, used to bus downtown every Friday morning to shop at the Vancouver Woodwards' Food Floor until 1976 when he passed away. After shopping, they would have lunch in the restaurant. Their groceries would be delivered later that afternoon. (One year, in December 1975, I believe, the bus home was stranded due to a severe snow storm. The bus driver got out of the bus and purchased fish and chips for the passengers.) My Papa always purchased my children's Christmas presents from the Vancouver Woodward's store - he gave his list to the staff for their help. And I was a huge fan of $1.49 day - and remember the $1.49 Day jingle by Tony Antonias, a New Westminster resident and employee of CKNW. My mother-in-law, Eva Irvine, worked from opening day in 1954 in the restaurant in New Westminster until her retirement in the '80s. I still miss Woodwards' stores.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous Feb 8/14: The cup and saucer you mentioned were probably the ones manufactured by Royal Albert and the pattern was "Old Country Roses". At least that is what I used to buy; I got the coffee mugs. A huge bargain! Gave them to my mother for her collection. I have them now.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the kind of person who would be disappointed at my attempts to revive the company.
ReplyDeleteI assume you are talking about the person far above who commented negatively in 2014. Everyone has different opinions, and while I try to weed out negative comments, that one got by. I was at Woodwards once and thought it belonged among the great stores featured on this site. Do keep us informed of your attempts: the US and Canada could use a good department store like Woodwards.
ReplyDeleteI have a Woodward's 100 anniversary picture has a sticker with price $4.99, still in original packaging. picture is of company horse drawn delivery truck and 1919 delivery van, anyone that collects Woodward's or Vancouver memorabilia can have it
ReplyDeleteI worked at Westomunt in Edmonton in furniture sales back in the 80's. Then I moved to SDC driving a delivery truck for a year. One day the chairman of the board came to the loading dock and handed out pocket knives that were engraved with $1,000,000,000 in Sales. Only a few years later they were gone. Sad to see how quickly it happened.
ReplyDeleteI used to live outside of Prince George in the 1970s. The first place for shopping which was recommended to me was Woodwards. It was great because you could pretty well do all your shopping and pick up your goods at the end of the day in one spot. One of my favorite routines was to stop at the restaurant and order. I just loved eating in the restaurant. One time I ordered a huge area rug and they delivered it to me for free. We had excellent customer service back in the day. I have many fond memories of the store.
ReplyDeleteMy dad worked at woodwards in edmonton as store manager. Dave russell. Sadly he commited suicide as the store ead about to close. He waz a well liked manager. Any memories?
ReplyDeleteMy first part time job was in the housewares dept at Southgate. Dave Russell was the manager. He was great to work for. A good guy.
DeleteI was part of the last group of managers in the Vancouver store prior to it closing. I was manager of the hardware and automotive for 10 years and prior that Oakridge. In 1966 I was hired and helped set up the Guildford Hardware and Automotive. It was always a great place to work and we were all treated so well by the company.
ReplyDeleteTo say it was the best years of my life would be an understatement as going to work each day was a new challenge and you always looked forward to greeting your fellow employees and getting started on a new day that often seem to end just after getting there, Time always go fast when your having a good time, that was Woodward's. don
Hardwareman, do you remember Bill Lawrie, Ed Ashmore and some of the other buyers in Hardware?
DeleteDoes anyone have the recipe for the Woodward's restaurant strawberry pie?
ReplyDeleteThere’s a book called ‘Cooking With Mona: The Original Woodward’s Cookbook’ featuring many recipes from Mona Brun who was Woodward’s food consultant. One of the recipes is for Strawberry Glaze Pie (page 165). Don’t know if this is the recipe used in the restaurant but may be worth a try. You should be able to find the book online at amazon or Indigo.
DeleteFollow up to my previous reply: just went through my copy of the cookbook and yes, under the recipe it states, “A favourite with everyone. More memories of Woodward’s restaurants “.
DeletePost your email and I’ll be happy to send you a screen shot.
I worked at Goodwill and found many Woodward's things that my dad would take to the alumni luncheons and he said they passed them on to a museum somewhere? I occasionally find things still, is there somewhere I can send them?
ReplyDeleteMy Mother and her twin sister worked at Woodwards in the early 1930's. I recently found 10 issues of what looks like a monthly newsletter from 1936.
ReplyDeleteI recently completed a memoir of working as a cashier at Woodward's Food Floor during the 1960s. It is available at WWW.FoodFloorDays.com
ReplyDeleteI especially miss Woodwards at Christmas time. They had the best Santa Claus' Castle set up at Northgate in Edmonton. I
ReplyDeletemiss department stores with good products and services so much. Why did they all go?
Hi there I have a May - June 1966 Woodward's Beacon from the Alberta division. I was wondering if there was a Museum or collector I could send it too?
ReplyDeleteI have most Beacons except the 1966 yr - I will be donating the entire collection to the Vancouver Museum - when Covid isn’t an issue anymore - as they have quite a Woodward’s collection at this time.
DeleteI am interested in any reference in the Beacon Newsletter from the latter half of 1964 that references the Beatles coming to Vancouver. My understanding is Woodward's Music Department and other departments have some great Beatles' displays set up. I am interested in buying any or getting a copy. Thanks. Contact beeb@shaw.ca
DeleteDoes anyone have any recollection or reference to an Egyptian Mummy being on display in the window of downtown Woodward store in the 1930’s
ReplyDeleteMy Mother teases me each March 17th that I decided to arrive just as she was getting ready to go for bargain day -- $1.49 Day -- at Woodward's, Downtown Vancouver. I was 2 weeks overdue, and arrived around 5:30pm. I wanted out, Mom! Lol ��.
ReplyDeleteI worked in the downtown Vancouver store back in 1974/75 in the nurses' office under the leadership of Nurse Anderson. I have one old photo of some of my fellow employees. The management was exceptional.
ReplyDeleteWoodgrove Nanaimo
ReplyDeleteI would like a copy of ther sandwich sheet. Those sandwiches were so good, such a variety. My adult kids still talk about them. How do
ReplyDeleteJoin the Facebook Group Woodward’s Department Store & FoodFloor- there are over 500 pages of recipes including the sandwiches in the Woodward’s Recipes Album. You have to answer the questions to be accepted into the private group. There are over 4000 members in the group
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