When it comes to Vancouver’s streetfront retail scene, West 4 th Avenue stands out. Robson Street is known for its global brands with larger stores. Alberni Street is famous for its luxury retailers.
West 4 th Avenue has become known for up and coming, smaller retailers—often those that are higher end, and sell durable and fashionable clothing, outdoor-wear and travel essentials. It is also known as a place where larger global companies test new store banners, or their first stores in North America. Asian luggage seller Lojel, for example, last month opened its first North American store, at 2183 West 4 th Avenue.
The store is run like a small business given that the company runs its North American operations as a separate division, with a corporate office in Vancouver, Lojel’s North American general manager Rachel Draper told BIV. Her chain has about 30 other stores around the world, and she plans to open a second Canadian location in Montreal next year, she said. After that, stores south of the border are possible, she added.
Lojel’s entrance followed shoemaker Vivobarefoot last year opening its first store outside Europe and the Middle East, at 2190 West 4 th Avenue . In late 2022, German sportswear giant Adidas AG opened its second Terrex-branded store, after one in Munich , at 2235 West 4 th Avenue. That Terrex store enabled Adidas to compete with Vancouver-based Arc'Teryx , and prompted Arc'Teryx to launch a lawsuit alleging that the Terrex name was an attempt t.