A new store worth checking out in vancity known as Vancouver Speical is just around the corner. Described below by local bloggers S&H and also featured in the Jan.09 issue of canadian House & Home magazine. I will be sure to drop in my next visit to Main Street and post an image then...
"Eero Saarinen, Yoshitomo Nara, and Endo met on a table. Folded into tight piles they stole sideways glances across the pottery and camo dishtowels. Eero eyed an apron, Nara eyed Endo, and together they elbowed their way into the spotlight display at Vancouver Special, Main Street’s newest art and design store. Jeff Wall’s massive hard cover coffee table read occasionally got jealous of the attention, but a few gentle finger strokes along the spine was enough to sooth the green monster envy.
Full of gadgets, gidgets, books and furniture, the business opened Saturday to share a myriad of creative comforts with mankind.
Owned by UBC Architecture grad Anne Pearson, the store is a breezy tribute to all things modern and cool. Function being their primary objective, it’s entirely possible to leave armed with an unusual radio, Danish-designed couch, or a slinky, if that’s what you’re after. “We’re definitely going for a clean, fresh, contemporary esthetic,” said Pearson, whose wide-eyed girl-next-door effusiveness belies a sharp instinct for design. “It’s all affordable, we really feel that good design doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
The location, which was previously occupied by an acupuncturist, drew all of Pearson’s architectural talents to renovate. What was 10 rooms is now one high ceilinged, light drenched showroom, with a loft adding extra floor space for the stock.
“I really liked that Main Street has a lot of independent retailers, it’s a good neighbourhood to land in,” continued Pearson. “And I’m really proud of the fact that all of our products are high quality.”
Quality, sure, but it’s the price tag that will draw the art hermits. Most of the small, portable items won’t ring out the credit card, so whether shopping for oneself or another, it’s a fair bet that you’ll walk away feeling sneakily proud of your thriftiness.
No method could be called into the madness of retail options available. It ranges from pottery by Vancouver artist Gailan Ngan (referred to as “our Gailan” by Betty Anne and her mother, Betty Anne) to Lotta Jansdotter bags, smokin’ Tivoli music players, Numark record players, Hay carpets, Sagaform juicers, ottomans, and even a portable space age $40 BBQ to knock the socks off any seasoned Spanish Banks summer dweller.
They also carry towel bars, cards, and a wide range of Japanese kitchen gear. Their couches are modular, thus easily adaptable to small or large places. Essentially, it’s like going to Ikea in terms of product range, but no one is going to have anything you come home with." -S.H.
3612 Main Street
Vancouver, BC
604-568-3673
