Commercial Drive or “The Drive” is a street and neighbourhood in Vancouver’s east end, with its most prominent area running roughly 20 blocks. The neighbourhood is an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, bars, and cafés. It is also the city of Vancouver’s designated Little Italy, representing more than 60 years of Italian heritage.
In this archive, you will find photos of the street, its buildings and stores, restaurants, bars, the cars and the people from the various time periods.
Please visit the Vancouver Archives to find more amazing old photographs from the city’s past.
1908 – Buffalo Grocery, 14th Avenue and Park [Commercial] Drive1914 – Men erecting power pole at Commercial Drive and Eleventh Avenue1918 – Crowds gather after a streetcar was derailed by the No. 11 V.F.D. hosewagon at 12th Avenue and Commercial Drive1918 – A streetcar derailed after being hit by the No. 11 V.F.D. hosewagon at 12th Avenue and Commercial Drive1920 – Employees in front of Duke’s Grocery [1588] Commercial Drive1920 – Window display, Duke’s Grocery1924 – Kingsway at Commercial Drive, Natal Garage, pre improvement1927 – View looking north along Commercial Drive at 2nd Avenue from an apartment on the southwest corner1934 – Crystal Dairy Fleet [at 1803 Commercial Drive]1940-1948 – Grandview Highway bus outside the Bus Stop Coffee Shop1946 – Exterior [of] Crystal Dairy Building [at 1803 Commercial Drive]1946 – Vernon Motors [at] 3rd Avenue and Commercial Drive1951 – Old Grandview School [First Avenue East and Commercial Drive]1974 – 2651-2657 Commercial Drive1974 – 2995 Commercial Drive – Fairway Grocery1978 – 902-916 Commercial Drive1978 – 1046 Commercial Drive, B.C. Block1978 – 1102 Commercial Drive1978 – 1314 Commercial Drive1978 – 1435 Commercial Drive, Belmont Block1978 – 1544 Commercial Drive1978 – 1588 Commercial Drive, Alvardo Block1978 – 1600 Block Commercial Drive, Odlin Block1978 – 1731 Commercial Drive1978 – 1939 – 1943 Commercial Drive1978 – Esso Garage [Imperial], corner Venables Street and Commercial Drive1978 1801 Commercial Drive, Int[ernational] Tile Work1985 – 1044 Commercial Drive1985 – 1102 Commercial Drive1985 – 1404 Commercial Drive1985 – 1435 Commercial Drive1985 – 1616, 1610 Commercial Drive1985 – 1700 – 1706 Commercial Drive1985 – 1700, 1714 Commercial Drive1985 – 1710-1712 Commercial Drive1985 – 1731 Commercial Drive1985 – 1752-1744 Commercial Drive
Please visit the Vancouver Archives to find more amazing old photographs from the city’s past.
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![1908 - Buffalo Grocery, 14th Avenue and Park [Commercial] Drive](https://vancouverguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1908-Buffalo-Grocery-14th-Avenue-and-Park-Commercial-Drive.jpg)
![1920 - Employees in front of Duke's Grocery [1588] Commercial Drive](https://vancouverguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1920-Employees-in-front-of-Dukes-Grocery-1588-Commercial-Drive.jpg)
![1934 - Crystal Dairy Fleet [at 1803 Commercial Drive]](https://vancouverguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1934-Crystal-Dairy-Fleet-at-1803-Commercial-Drive.jpg)
![1946 - Exterior [of] Crystal Dairy Building [at 1803 Commercial Drive]](https://vancouverguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1946-Exterior-of-Crystal-Dairy-Building-at-1803-Commercial-Drive.jpg)
![1946 - Vernon Motors [at] 3rd Avenue and Commercial Drive](https://vancouverguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1946-Vernon-Motors-at-3rd-Avenue-and-Commercial-Drive.jpg)
![1978 - Esso Garage [Imperial], corner Venables Street and Commercial Drive](https://vancouverguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1978-Esso-Garage-Imperial-corner-Venables-Street-and-Commercial-Drive.jpg)
![1978 1801 Commercial Drive, Int[ernational] Tile Work](https://vancouverguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1978-1801-Commercial-Drive-International-Tile-Work.jpg)
