“Running this type of business is really just blood, sweat and tears,” said Colin Lo, sitting in an office in the back of the West End grocery store his family has owned and operated for over 40 years, a small space heater whirring to warm the late winter afternoon air.
West Valley Market opened its doors on Bute Street in 1975. It was run by the Lo brothers: Bob, who started the business; Alfred; and Andrew, Colin’s father, who immigrated to Vancouver from Hong Kong in the 1970s.
Andrew took over after Alfred passed away and Bob needed to step away from the business. Like his brothers, Andrew had a tireless work ethic, running the store 365 days per year, from 9am to 11pm.
West Valley Market became something residents could rely on for their fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as non-perishable items.
Times were changing, though, and 10 years ago, when Andrew was in his late 50s, Andrew’s wife Fanny and son Colin became co-owners to help keep the business afloat.
At its peak, West Valley Market had up to 13 staff on hand to serve customers, work the cash registers and stock over 5,000 square feet of shelves, freezers and displays with food.
The family often employed new immigrants to Canada. They listened to the needs of the community and adjusted their orders to accommodate the tastes of the neighbourhood.
The business thrived, but Colin Lo’s involvement waned as commitments to his two young daughters and full-time work as a realtor took priority. In late 2016, after the death of a relative who had been helping out a lot at the store, Colin said the family decided it was time to close.
“It’s a little bit bittersweet,” said Lo. “I’ve met a lot of people. For my dad, more so.”
“We’ve really been like an institution for the West End area and I think there is a responsibility for us to support the community. The way we support them is by bringing in foods that they are used to, want and can’t get anywhere in the area. … It might not be a huge moneymaker for us, but we do what we can and we listen, and I think that’s very important. And that’s what we’re going to miss the most. Because there are a lot of relationships built over the years.”
Local resident Jean Milne, 68, has been living in the West End since 1984 and regularly walks to West Valley Market for groceries. After inquiring about the fact that the grocery store shelves were looking bare, staff confided to her that they would soon be closing shop.
“I’m really sad it’s going,” she said over the phone. “It’s just a very friendly place that’s been responsive to what people want to buy.”
Milne appreciated that West Valley Market carried a wide variety of foods, including a lot of Tex-Mex staples, tortillas and cornhusks, which she used for making tamales, and all within walking distance from her home.
Zaira Herrera, owner of Don Chendo Products, has been supplying Mexican foods to West Valley Market on a weekly basis for around three years.
“It’s going to be a huge impact to our business,” she said in a telephone interview. “They were always looking for new stuff [Mexican food] and eager to supply that [to their customers].”
“They were always quite nice and went the extra mile to please their clients,” she added. “It’s a great loss.”
West Valley Market will gradually sell off their products until the end of May.
“I still believe there is a place and need for small businesses [like West Valley Market],”said Lo, adding that he plans on continuing to support independent grocers by going to them to purchase food for his family.
