Spencer's
Encyclopedia
David Spencer Limited operated a department store
chain in the province of British Columbia
, Canada
during the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.
Founded in the city of Victoria
in 1873 by David W. Spencer
, the first store, located on Government Street, consisted of a dry goods shop operating under the name "Spencer and Denny". The store prospered and expanded, and a second store was opened in 1890 in Nanaimo. The Vancouver
store, which opened in 1907, was so successful that it soon expanded to occupy almost an entire city block. Other stores later opened in Chilliwack
and New Westminster.
For a number of years, Spencer's was a rival to the Woodward's
department store, another British Columbia-based chain. In 1948, however, Spencer's was acquired by the much larger Eaton's
department store chain, which had stores across Canada. The nine Spencer's stores in the Lower Mainland
and Vancouver Island
were converted into Eaton's stores.
The second Spencer's store in downtown Victoria, at 1150 Douglas Street (which replaced the original Government Street store), operated as an Eaton's store until the late 1980s, when it was demolished to make way for the Victoria Eaton Centre shopping mall (now called the Bay Centre
).
Spencer's downtown Vancouver store, on Hastings Street, operated as an Eaton's store until 1972, when Eaton's opened its new Vancouver flagship store in the newly constructed Pacific Centre
shopping mall. Unlike its Victoria cousin, however, the former Spencer's store was not demolished; it was later occupied by Simpsons-Sears
(which now occupies the former Pacific Centre Eaton's store as Sears Canada), and today it serves as the downtown "Harbour Centre" campus of Simon Fraser University
. The building itself is currently called the Harbour Centre
.
The last operating vestiges of the former Spencer's chain disappeared with the demise of the Eaton's chain in 1999.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
chain in the province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
during the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.
Founded in the city of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1873 by David W. Spencer
David W. Spencer
David W. Spencer founded the Spencer's department store chain in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 1873....
, the first store, located on Government Street, consisted of a dry goods shop operating under the name "Spencer and Denny". The store prospered and expanded, and a second store was opened in 1890 in Nanaimo. The Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
store, which opened in 1907, was so successful that it soon expanded to occupy almost an entire city block. Other stores later opened in Chilliwack
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
and New Westminster.
For a number of years, Spencer's was a rival to the Woodward's
Woodward's
Woodward's was the name of a department store chain which operated in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada for one hundred years, before its sale to the Hudson's Bay Company .-History:...
department store, another British Columbia-based chain. In 1948, however, Spencer's was acquired by the much larger Eaton's
Eaton's
The T. Eaton Co. Limited was once Canada's largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant. Eaton's grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada, with stores across the country, buying offices across the globe, and a catalogue...
department store chain, which had stores across Canada. The nine Spencer's stores in the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
and Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
were converted into Eaton's stores.
The second Spencer's store in downtown Victoria, at 1150 Douglas Street (which replaced the original Government Street store), operated as an Eaton's store until the late 1980s, when it was demolished to make way for the Victoria Eaton Centre shopping mall (now called the Bay Centre
Bay Centre
The Bay Centre, formerly the Victoria Eaton Centre, is a shopping mall in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Opening in 1990, the mall was the first large shopping mall in Victoria's city centre, occupying what were formerly two city blocks of the Old Town area...
).
Spencer's downtown Vancouver store, on Hastings Street, operated as an Eaton's store until 1972, when Eaton's opened its new Vancouver flagship store in the newly constructed Pacific Centre
Pacific Centre
Pacific Centre is a shopping mall located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is operated by Cadillac Fairview Corporation. Based on the number of stores, many of which are underground, it is the largest mall in Downtown Vancouver with over 100 stores and services...
shopping mall. Unlike its Victoria cousin, however, the former Spencer's store was not demolished; it was later occupied by Simpsons-Sears
Sears Canada
Sears Canada Inc. is a retailer, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, that operates in all provinces and territories across Canada with a network of 196 corporate stores, 195 dealer stores, 38 home improvement showrooms, 108 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide home maintenance, repair, and...
(which now occupies the former Pacific Centre Eaton's store as Sears Canada), and today it serves as the downtown "Harbour Centre" campus of Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
. The building itself is currently called the Harbour Centre
Harbour Centre
Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The "Lookout" tower atop the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a prominent landmark on the city's skyline...
.
The last operating vestiges of the former Spencer's chain disappeared with the demise of the Eaton's chain in 1999.
External links
- Current view of Spencer Building in Vancouver
- Current view of Spencer Building in Vancouver (in foreground of photo)
- Footage of Spencer's Toy Parade, ca 1927, terminating at downtown Vancouver store, City of Vancouver Archives
- Welsh Immigrant Who Built a Department Store Chain at the Celtic Connection
