Oldest home outside downtown, unique shops among attractions

Michael Sasges
Sun

At city hall, Vancouver‘s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood is ”one of the most diverse communities in the city” and an ”eclectic mix of new and old homes, industry, educational facilities and artist live/work studios.”

The oldest single-family-detached residence in the city outside of the downtown is located there. It was built in 1889.

For Krista Shirreff, organizer of the Block sales and marketing campaign and a Mount Pleasant resident, the neighbourhood is singular. ”It is a totally emerging, hip, authentic neighbourhood that has a very distinct character. It’s not a cookie-cutter neighbourhood.”

The neighbourhood’s western boundary is Cambie Street; it’s eastern boundary, Clark Drive. To the north, Great Northern Way and Second Avenue are the boundaries; to the south, Kingsway and 16th Avenue

In the just released Wallpaper* City Guide: Vancouver, Mount Pleasant is “South Main,” or SoMa, and “quirky,” but “moving upmarket as condos and fashion stores spring up.”

The oldest commercial building in the city outside the downtown is located there. It was built in 1892.

For Veronika Baspaly, Mount Pleasant is both the neighbourhood in which she makes her home and operates her business.

With her husband, Baspaly is the owner of the Lark clothing and accessories store, for men and women, a ”singular experience of chic” in the opinion of the Wallpaper* guide.

Baspaly has operated the store for more than four years, the last two from its current Main Street location. What follows are some of her thoughts on her ‘hood.

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Q Why is Lark located in Mount Pleasant rather than another Vancouver neighbourhood?

A The diversity of the area was really interesting to us. Many of our friends live in Mount Pleasant and some of them have businesses as well and to be a part of that community seemed like a charmed life. Five years ago when we were drafting our business plan we thought about other neighbourhoods in Vancouver and we didn’t see ourselves fitting into those communities very well. At that time rent in this area wasn’t too high and there seemed to be a lot of growth happening fairly quickly. So we thought we’d put our roots down in an area that was evolving in many different ways.

Q What is keeping Lark in the neighbourhood?

A That’s a complicated question to answer briefly. Being this close to the Olympic Village is exciting: it means that the world will be watching and also visiting in February. We have really great landlords which is very rare in Vancouver. They own the AION art gallery which is now located on East 15th. It’s great to have people who care about their property as landlords. This neighbourhood is our home so leaving it would be uprooting our lives, not just our business.

Q Are Lark’s customers mainly your neighbours?

A Many of our best customers live in other areas. Lark is a destination for them. Vancouver is small and what we do here is so niche that not everyone understands our inspirations. Those who do understand are willing to travel to get to us.

Q What do visitors to the store who are your neighbours say to you about their neighbourhood?

A I find that as diverse as the people who live here are, their opinions are also as diverse. I hear people speak very positively about the area and the new businesses opening. Some people think the evolution of the area is too slow; some don’t like to see change at all.

Q Is there a moment or an experience inside or outside the store that exemplifies, for you, the Mount Pleasant “sensibility” or spirit?

A When my husband and I got Hunter, our English bulldog, we took her to Antisocial, the skate shop half a block up from Lark, and Michelle, the owner, pulled out a skateboard for her to ride. Michelle took pictures and posted them on her store website. The sense of togetherness among many of the business owners is amazing. We look after one another, no matter how different we are or how little we appear to have in common.

Q Why are there so many retailers of singular, or unique, clothing and accessories on Main Street?

A Main Street is one of the few areas that has smaller commercial spaces unsuitable for chains and box stores, but perfect for specialty shops that are very niche. Unlike many of the other areas in Vancouver that have this benefit, Mount Pleasant also has a history of community. It was strongest 20 years ago when the “Shame the John’s” campaign was started by local residents and businesses to counter the emergence of prostitution and drugs in the area. The Mount Pleasant business association was formed to create a link to city hall and also to make sure that the social problems that were turning the neighbourhood dangerous would not return. The evolution of this neighbourhood has brought it back to its roots which were that of a family friendly and small-business friendly community.

Q Why are there so many coffee shops along Main Street? And do you have a favourite?

A The real answer lies in antiquated liquor laws. Most cities have streets lined with pubs, lounges, bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants all serving alcohol in a responsible and adult way. In Vancouver the licensing is so strict that opening anything except a café is nearly impossible. Before the concept for Lark came about we tried to open a cocktail bar in Mount Pleasant. I am now well schooled in the inner workings of city hall. It’s such a shame because it really does stunt the city from flourishing in many ways.

I like the coffee at Gene Café. The espresso is strong and has a nice rich cream. In my opinion it’s the best coffee in the city. I like the patio and coffee at JJBean, and the service is super fast.

Q Lastly, what do you want Vancouver Sun readers to know about Mount Pleasant?

A I want them to know that this area has so much Vancouver history. It’s the first suburb, it’s been through many eras of prosperity and neglect. It’s on the rise of prosperity again and with the attentiveness of its caretakers, residents and business owners, it will only get better. Because it has always lived under the radar of the mainstream and big business it has been allowed to develop its very own character that is actually influenced by everyone that lives and works in it. It’s nice to be in a place where everyone does actually matter.

Readers who want to know more about Mount Pleasant‘s history will enjoy a city hall publication, Mount Pleasant Historic Context Statement, available at vancouver.ca on the Internet.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

 

Payment company sold for $370 million

Carla Wilson
Sun

Global payments company Custom House Ltd. of Victoria is being sold for $370 million US to Colorado-based Western Union.

Set to close this summer, the huge deal surpasses even the sale of Victoria-based Thrifty Food chain, Vancouver Island‘s largest private-sector employer, to Sobeys of Nova Scotia for $260 million two years ago.

Plans call for Custom House, which employs 150 in Victoria and another 630 employees in various countries, to continue running under its existing management in Canada, Western Union said.

Christina Gold, Western Union president and CEO, called Custom House a “dynamic business” with a significant customer base in the cross-border payments market.

The firm has a network of trading offices and operates around the clock daily. Payments can be made in more than 120 countries. Revenue is generated mainly from senders in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Italy, Singapore and New Zealand.

Founder and chairman Peter Gustavson, who will no longer be involved with the company once the sale is complete, said he expects staff levels to grow under Western Union.

“I’m both excited and a little bit sad that I won’t be able to participate in the next phase of Custom House’s growth,” Gustavson said Thursday. “I’m sure that after a little bit of rest I’ll be back in, looking at something in financial services. … It will be a lot more fun starting a business with money this time.”

Gustavson began the company 17 years ago as a currency exchange in a retail space in the Custom House building at Government and Wharf Streets in Victoria, taking the building’s name to bring an official tone to the venture.

It moved to providing service over the phone, and then over the Internet.

“Then we became a global payment facilitator. Really, we just keep evolving and trying to stay one step ahead of the competition,” said Gustavson, who co-owns Custom House with Great Hill Partners of Boston, which holds 28.5 per cent.

The company now has close to 40,000 customers internationally, and its buyer said it is on track to generate $100 million US in annual revenue.

Gustavson said the company never grew less than 20 per cent in a year. “We kept challenging the status quo. Even though we had a successful business, we kept looking for the next big thing.”

Custom House has two main platforms, one for individuals and small business, the other for larger companies, he said. About 45 computer programmers are continually adding new functions.

“You want to stay ahead of the curve. You want to add new bells and whistles to make your product more attractive than your competitors’. If you don’t do that in business, eventually somebody is going to lap you, and you are going to end up being beaten in the marketplace.”

Recent global financial problems have led to skyrocketing sales since October, he said. “Our major competitors in the world are the banks. And the banks, for the most part, are on their back heels . . . giving us a big opportunity to grow our business.”

As the business grew, some people urged Gustavson to move to a centre such as Toronto or New York, but he resisted the idea. “In reality, Victoria has been the perfect place to build a financial-services business. It has a very skilled workforce, and it really didn’t matter where on the planet we were located.”

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Western Union pays $370m for B.C. company

Carla Wilson
Province

Custom House Ltd., a leading global payments company based in Victoria, is being sold to Western Union for $370 million US.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

Founded 17 years ago by Peter Gustavson, it has almost 40,000 customers internationally and 630 employees worldwide. It facilitates payments between small- and medium-sized firms.

In 2006, Great Hill Partners of Boston made a “substantial equity investment” in Custom House and is a co-owner.

“We are extraordinarily proud of what the Custom House team has accomplished as an independent company and are excited about the increased potential that will come from leveraging our collective resources,” Gustavson said yesterday.

Custom House has a global network of trading offices and runs around the clock seven days a week. Customers can make payments in person or online.

It has trading offices in North American, Europe and Asia. Payments can be made through the company in more than 120 countries.

Said Christina Gold, president and CEO of the Greenwood Village, Colo.-based Western Union: “Custom House is a dynamic business and has a significant customer based in the cross-border payments market, which generates strong margins and cash flow.

Plans call for Custom House to continue running under existing management in Canada, Western Union said.

© Copyright (c) The Province

Kasey Wilson
Sun

Old world wine regions may have tradition on their side, but British Columbia offers sheer romance and drama — and balanced whites and reds — for both wine tasters and wine travellers.

Here’s a sample: the Okanagan Valley and Saltspring Island offer two diverse yet equally indulgent wine destinations for you to uncork your inner sommelier.

With more than 100 wineries and the pristine 130-kilometre-long blue-green Okanagan Lake, B.C.’s sunny Okanagan Valley ranks among the most scenic wine regions in the world. Less than an hour by air, or a four-hour drive, east of Vancouver, the Okanagan Valley‘s wineries produce a bounty of award-winning sips. Their pinot blanc, pinot gris, pinot noir, syrah, chardonnay, merlot, malbec, gewürztraminer, rieslings and icewines all consistently garner gold medal standings on the international stage.

Start your tour in Kelowna at the B.C. Wine Museum, situated in the Laurel Packinghouse (kelownamuseums.ca), where the boutique stocks B.C. labels, including some rare vintages. Be sure to check the British Columbia Wine Institute website (winebc.com) for wine country maps; visit the architecturally-stunning Mission Hill Family Estate (missionhillwinery.com) for their educational tours; CedarCreek Estate Winery (cedarcreek.bc.ca) for champion pinot noir; Quails’ Gate (quailsgate.com) where the tasting room boasts state-of-the-art spittoons; and Gray Monk Estate Winery (graymonk.com) for its pinot gris and spotting site for Ogopogo, Lake Okanagan’s legendary “lake demon.”

In the South Okanagan, don’t miss the Naramata estate of La Frenz (lafrenzwinery.com) where you’ll sip award-winning wines in a tasting room that looks like an Aussie farm building. And at Red Rooster (redroosterwinery.com), once you’ve toured the tasting room, take time to visit the mezzanine gallery featuring local artists. Both Lake Breeze (lakebreeze.ca) and Hillside Estate Winery & Bistro (hillsideestate.com) show off their wines at their popular eateries and at Elephant Island Orchard Wines (elephantislandwine.com), you’ll sample B.C.’s finest fruit wines.

Continue your travels south with a visit to Burrowing Owl Estate Winery (burrowingowlwine.ca) — their reds, pinot gris and chardonnays are iconic wines in Canada. At the eastern edge of Osoyoos, in desert country near the U.S. border, the Osoyoos Indian Band owns and operates NK’MIP (pronounced In-ka-meep) Cellars — the first aboriginal winery in North America (nkmip.com). Wines worthy of a sip line the shelves, while the tasting room — filled with First Nations art — also provides a visual feast.

Speaking of sustenance, wherever good wine is made, you’ll find innovative chefs pairing menus with vintages, resulting in some of the finest dining in the region. A perfect interlude to a day of wine tasting is to stop at the open-air Terrace at Mission Hill, named one of the world’s top winery restaurants by Travel + Leisure magazine. Start with Chef Michael Allemeier’s heirloom tomato gazpacho, paired with sauvignon blanc and a charcuterie sharing plate matched with a reserve shiraz. (Pick up a jar of Allemeier’s decadent preserved Oculus cherries at the gift shop to savour at home.) On the Naramata Bench, sample the selections at The Bistro at Hillside Estate Winery, a destination boasting stunning views from the restaurant or patio. For dinner, order the rack of lamb and a glass of their medal-garnering Mosaic Bordeaux blend.

After a day’s exploration, settle in for vineyard accommodation in the South Okanagan. Two of the most spectacular spots to stay in the Valley are at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery and Hester Creek (hestercreek.com). The intimate 11-room guesthouse at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery has spacious air-conditioned rooms with private balconies, and on the grounds you’ll find a 25-metre swimming pool and a hot tub, and even an award-winning restaurant.

The posh Villa at Hester Creek is reminiscent of Tuscany, with private patios surrounded by incomparable panoramic views of vineyards and orchards. Manager Lee Ann Openshaw is a talented cook, so expect the breakfast to be exemplary.

At the eastern edge of Osoyoos, on a spectacular bench overlooking the shores of Osoyoos Lake, you’ll find the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa (spiritridge.ca), created in partnership with the Osoyoos Indian Band as part of the greater resort destination of NK’MIP. Here, you’ll find 226 desert-themed villas and suites and a wine-country inspired restaurant — Passa Tempo — a spa and outdoor pools.

Not to be left out of the wine scene is Saltspring Island.

Winemaking is relatively new on Saltspring with two wineries, Garry Oaks Winery (garryoakswinery.com) and Salt Spring Vineyards (saltspringvineyards.com) producing their first vintages in 2001 and 2002. At Garry Oaks, you’ll want to taste their pinot gris, pinot noir, Prism and Zeta.

The charming Salt Spring Vineyards produces 10 wines: picks by Wine Access, Canada‘s national wine magazine, included their Karma sparkling wine, blanc de noir and pinot gris in 2008. You can also stay in the romantic

on-site B&B combining luxury with the seductive setting of a working vineyard; breakfast features produce and fruit from their garden, locally roasted coffee and organic eggs from a neighbour’s farm. And let’s face it — it’s the perfect place to raise a glass.

Order your free Touring Guide to British Columbia‘s Wineries, with information on winery touring in the Okanagan Valley, Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley, at www.HelloBC.com/foodwine.

For more information on other British Columbia destinations and travel information, call 1-800 HELLO BC or visit www.HelloBC.com/foodandwine.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun