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When we think of Woodward Stores we recall the large department stores with associated food floors, which dominated the retail scene in western Canada. But Woodward Stores was much more. There were many other retail endeavours and associated services.

OTHER RETAIL

Service Stations

Book Stores

The Coggery

Meat Store at Park Royal

Catalogue

Furniture Fairs

A warehouse showroom concept modelled after Levitz and Wickes. The stores displayed furniture in room sized setting. The Burnaby store opened in 1973 and the Edmonton in 1975. The concept featured selection, immediate availability and low prices. If you saw furniture in the showroom there was one available, in its original carton, in the warehouse. Bob Jackson was the project manager for this venture and Dennis Zucatto managed them. The concept was not successful and both locations are currently used by Costco. In the US, Levitz and Wickes have both gone into bankruptcy.

Marina at Coal Harbour

Abercrombie and Fitch

A franchise selling high quality merchandise. There were four stores in Vancouver (Oakridge Center, 1985), Edmonton (1985), Toronto, and Montreal (1987). They received substantial financial incentive from the owners of the malls in which they were located, and despite this they were not successful. William Van Unen was promoted to President of Abercrombie and Fitch Canada to operate the stores.

WHOLESALE and MANUFACTURING

Britalta Drugs

Britalta was managed by Peter Lynch for many years. The company provided prescription drugs for all stores in BC and

Alberta. Fast service for special orders was provided by the office box service from the data processing department. Offices and warehouse were on the seventh floor in the downtown Vancouver store. Britalta also used the Grocery Order Processing System.

J. R. Phillips

J. R. Philips provided tobacco products and associated gadgets to all stores in BC and Alberts. They were among the first users of the Grocery Order Processing System which provided a complete store ordering, billing, and inventory control with warehouse purchasing assist, for thousands of items. Offices and warehouse were in the MacLean building in Gastown, on Powell street, Vancouver.

Supply Department – Article from the Beacon, March – April 1970