Robson Street

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robson street at night

Robson Street is a major southeast-northwest thoroughfare in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its name honours John Robson, a major figure in British Columbia's entry into the Canadian Confederation, and Premier of the province from 1889 to 1892. Robson Street starts at B.C. Place Stadium near the north shore of False Creek, then runs northwest past Vancouver Library Square, Robson Square and the Vancouver Art Gallery, coming to an end at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park.

Upscale Robson Street ties with Toronto's Bloor Street West as the most expensive street in Canada, with an annual average rental price of $208 per square foot.^[1]

In 1895, train tracks were laid down the street, supporting a concentration of shops and restaurants. From the early to mid 20th century, the northwest end of Robson Street was known as a centre of German culture and commerce in Vancouver, and for a long time was referred to as the "Robsonstrasse," even by non-Germans (this name lives on in the Robsonstrasse Hotel on the street).

1 Upscale Shopping
2 Neighbourhoods
3 See also
4 References
5 External link

[edit] Upscale Shopping

Robson Street's role as a consumer district continues to the present day. Robson Street is particularly famous for the fashion shops and dining which extends from Granville Street in the southeast to Denman Street in the northwest, with the main concentration centred between Burrard and Bute Streets.

Although not technically on Robson Street but still considered part of the district, Burrard Street near Robson in addition to the areas of Hastings, Pender, Alberni, and Georgia Streets that cross near Burrard contain the most expensive upscale stores in the city, with prominent anchors such as Gucci, Louis Vitton, Prada, Chanel, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Coach, and Salvatore Ferragamo.

The street's intersection with Thurlow Street is known for having two Starbucks locations kitty-corner from each other. There is one on the west corner, and one on the east corner. The one on the west corner is particularly known as a major meeting-place for the biker culture, with Harley-Davidsons, Japanese bikes, and cafe racers alike parked in a special bikes-only strip of parking painted on the pavement. It was also this streetcorner of Robson and Thurlow that acted as the epicentre of the Stanley Cup Riot of 1994.^[2]

[edit] Neighbourhoods

There are numerous highrises along or near Robson, many of them condo towers and hotels. The landmark, Empire Landmark Hotel, is the tallest highrise on the strip at 42 storeys. It includes the Cloud Nine revolving restaurant as well as the distinction that each room having a balcony and paramount views.

There are numerous residential condo and apartment towers under construction along the Southern end of the strip near Yaletown toward the bustling Granville Mall, whereas the Northern end which becomes part of the West End contains older residential highrises which are upscale and quiet toward Stanley Park's Lost Lagoon.

Koreatown is located on the near-Northern end of Robson Street, around Cardero in the West End. The area is well known for it's popularity among Korean and Japanese students/exchange students as well as those on working holidays and locals alike.

Robson Street is also popular throughout the Lower Mainland as a cruising street, with many exotic, rare cars and motorcycles present every weekend throughout the summer. At one time in the early 2000s, the Vancouver Police sought to combat repeat cruisers, and thereby lower congestion, by issuing tickets to those driving up and down the street excessively; nowadays the street is more cruise-friendly.

[edit] See also

West End, Vancouver (Robson Street passes through the northeast edge of the West End)
Canadian Monopoly (Robson Street is the most expensive and costly property on the board)