A familiar retail landmark in Vancouver is set for a significant transformation, as Canadian supermarket giant Sobeys plans to open a new grocery store in the building previously occupied by Toys ‘R’ Us on West Broadway. This move signals a shift for the prominent site and intensifies competition in the local grocery market. The key takeaway is that interior demolition is underway, preparing the large retail space for its new life, though the long-term fate of the site, including a heritage sign, remains linked to future development plans.
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From Toy Kingdom to Grocery Aisles
The single-storey building at 1154-1174 West Broadway has a history of adaptation. After serving as a BowMac car dealership with an iconic vertical sign built in 1958, it became a Toys ‘R’ Us in 1997. Now, following the toy retailer’s recent closure, Sobeys is stepping in, indicating a pivot in the site’s retail focus towards essential goods.
Interior view of the former Toys R Us store on West Broadway, Vancouver before conversion to a Sobeys grocery store.
What’s Happening On-Site Now
Construction notices posted on May 21 confirm that interior demolition work is underway to facilitate tenant improvements for the future Sobeys store. This initial phase involves clearing approximately 11,500 sq. ft. of the internal space. While Sobeys is overseeing this work, no specific building permits for the broader renovation or construction related to the grocery store have yet been filed with the municipal government.
Sobeys banner indicates new grocery store coming to former Toys R Us building on West Broadway, Vancouver.
The building itself is substantial, covering most of a city block at the southeast corner of West Broadway and Alder Street. It encompasses nearly 29,000 sq. ft. of retail space, which includes the former Babies ‘R’ Us section, along with a rooftop parking lot. This large footprint offers significant potential for Sobeys to establish a sizable supermarket presence.
The Fate of the Heritage BowMac Sign
A notable element tied to the property’s history is the 80-ft tall vertical BowMac sign. Erected in 1958 when the area was Vancouver’s auto row, it was once a prominent landmark. In 1997, a Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) was established, legally linking the sign’s preservation and maintenance to the duration of the Toys ‘R’ Us lease.
With the termination of the Toys ‘R’ Us lease, the future of the BowMac sign is now uncertain. The HRA states that upon lease termination, a new agreement must be negotiated, or the sign could face demolition. The sign, which currently features elements covering it for the former Toys ‘R’ Us logo, appears weathered and requires significant maintenance and restoration, last undergoing major work in the late 1990s. Careful effort will be needed to remove the old logos while preserving the heritage structure.
Heritage BowMac sign with attached Toys R Us logo on the West Broadway, Vancouver site.
Competitive Grocery Landscape on West Broadway
The arrival of Sobeys adds another major player to a rapidly evolving grocery market in the Central Broadway area. Just a few blocks west, a 22,000 sq. ft. Loblaws City Market is set to open within The Stories, a new mixed-use tower development that also houses an entrance to the new South Granville SkyTrain Station. This concentration of new large grocery stores in close proximity indicates increasing competition for consumer dollars in the neighbourhood, likely driven by anticipated population growth and improved transit access from the SkyTrain extension.
Sobeys operates several grocery banners in British Columbia, including Safeway, FreshCo, Chalo FreshCo, IGA, and Thrifty Foods. The specific brand Sobeys plans to introduce at the West Broadway site has not yet been announced.
Historic photo of the BowMac sign and car dealership on West Broadway, Vancouver in 1995 before redevelopment.
Long-Term Redevelopment Potential
While the Sobeys grocery store represents the site’s next immediate use, the property holds significant long-term redevelopment potential. The City of Vancouver’s Broadway Plan designates this area for much higher density, allowing for mixed-use towers up to 30 storeys. The site’s prime location, within walking distance of future SkyTrain stations like South Granville and VGH-Oak, makes it highly attractive for future, more intensive development. This potential high-rise future underscores the potentially temporary nature of the single-storey grocery store use in the broader context of the city’s planning goals for the Broadway corridor.
The transformation from Toys ‘R’ Us to a Sobeys grocery store marks a notable chapter for this prominent West Broadway property. While the immediate focus is on getting the new supermarket ready, observers will also be watching developments regarding the future of the heritage BowMac sign and the eventual realization of the site’s significant long-term redevelopment potential under the Broadway Plan. As Sobeys prepares to open its doors, it joins a competitive market, promising residents more options right near upcoming transit hubs.
