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 Shop
1946 – 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]
Gastown has the distinction of being Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood. The neighbourhood earned its name thanks to Captain John Deighton, an English mariner and saloon keeper. Captain John had a reputation for being rather talkative and […]
La Grotta del Formaggio first opened on Commercial Drive in Vancouver in 1977. They have occupied their current location on Commercial at East 2nd Ave since 1979. In the last few months, the space has […]
Vancouver is known for a lot of things. Its never-ending rain, sprawling mountain ranges, or the iconic three-note chime of the SkyTrain as its doors close. Yet the fire that razed the young city to […]
![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)
