I grew up not too far from Oakridge Mall™… it used to be my go-to mall… but, just like the changes that have transformed Vancouver over my lifetime… the same thing can be said about that mall. It’s presently undergoing a massive renovation, and I’m curious how it’ll all look once it’s done. Until they started the renovations, it was still a go-to kind of mall. Great little hole-in-the-wall sushi place, great foot reflexology place, David’s Tea™ , Radio Shack™/The Source™. Renovations or pandemic; they’re all gone.
For those who’ve been around long enough, you might remember two things about that mall, and others that had a Woodward’s™ … things you haven’t thought about in years, but I’m about to remind you. Both have to do with the Woodward’s Food Floor™ , the ancestor of Safeway™. First of all, at a counter at the front… the best frosted malts on the planet. The most well-known bribe imaginable… kids don’t want to go shopping? Offer them a WFF frosted malt. Done deal. I’ve never been able to find anything like those; a Wendy’s Frosty™ is the closest thing, but it’s not the same. Who knows what gave it that intangible incredible taste. For all I know, it was mixing the malt with the non-biodegradable styrofoam cup that it came in, the kind where it makes that delicious scraping sound as you try to reach every last molecule of yumminess. If anybody reading this knows of a place locally that makes really good frosted malts… please… tell me!!
The other thing was the Parcel Depot™ — which sounds like something out of The Jetsons™ if you’re not familiar with it. You’d buy your groceries, which would always we be bagged by some kid… into paper bags. But instead of just handing you a shopping cart full of bags… or maybe schlepping them out to the car for you… what he’d do is put them in giant plastic tubs. Each tub had a number painted on it. Each tub also had a ratty-looking plastic shingle with the same number. The bags would go in, and the shingle (or shingles, if it was one of those massive haul sort-of trips requiring multiple bins) would be handed to the shopper. And then… the magic. The tubs would disappear underground, on a mysterious conveyor belt that took them into the abyss.
Actually, it wasn’t the abyss… it was an island in the middle of the parking lot, the Parcel Pickup™ where you’d drive the car, pop the trunk, hand the shingle to some other kid who’d find the appropriate tub that had magically materialized in said island… and load your trunk. Incredibly futuristic, in hindsight.
Around 30 years ago, I had this friend… who was dating a girl who was a hairdresser. She was really nice, and would cut my hair for free. I had to drive out all the way to New West, but so what… free haircut! And then, one day, they broke up. He was sad. I was sad too, because I lost my hair hookup. He’s laughing right now because he’s reading this. Hi Andrew.
And so, around 30 years ago but a few weeks later, I happened to be at Oakridge Mall™ and realized I desperately needed a haircut, and there was a hair salon place there. It was called Raymond Hair Design™ , located roughly where BMO™ and The Apple Store™ are today. I wandered in, asked for a haircut… I didn’t have an appointment of course, so they hooked me up with whoever was free — turned out to be a very nice young (we were all young back then) lady who cut my hair and did a great job with it. Good enough that when I needed a haircut next time, I went back to the same place and asked for her. And this went on for years, until one day she told me that she and a few of her co-workers were starting-up their own place… maybe I wanted to follow her there. Of course… where? Near Broadway & Granville. For sure… so for the next few years, that’s where the haircuts took place. And then one day, she said she’s going out on her own… she found a little place and signed a lease… maybe I wanted to follow her there. Of course… where? Near Broadway & Granville. Aren’t we near Broadway & Granville right now? Yes, indeed… it’s a couple of blocks away. Great.
So the haircuts moved over to the new place for several years… a kind of dark, below-ground little spot…but it did the job… until one day she said she’s moving again, to a bigger and brighter spot. Great, I said… where..? Near Broadway & Granville. Yeah…isn’t that where we are right now? Indeed… just a couple of blocks away. Heh, ok. See you there. And that’s where the haircuts moved to… and that’s exactly where I was a few hours ago, for the first time since February 24th. I typically cut my hair every few weeks… it grows quickly. It’s been 15 weeks…
I must say, I was really happy to go there. My hair desperately needed it, it was really nice to see her and catch up, and, of course, the feeling of restoring normality that comes with all of that. It was weird… we were the only two in the entire salon, she was wearing a mask… but still… so, shoutout to Jenny — she’s reading this too. I can’t seem to find the best frosted malts on the planet, but I found the best haircuts 30 years ago, so I’m sticking with it.
Speaking of sticking with it… you know, I can’t sign off without some sort of pandemic correlation… that seems to be *my* TradeMark™… but this one is easy… like I said, for us around here who’ve behaved relatively well, so much so that our numbers are allowing us the steps toward normality… this is the sort of reward that comes with it. It’s not a lot, but like many things we used to take for granted, it now comes with a new appreciation. I suppose like oxygen… it’s not a big deal and you never think about it… until the moment comes where you can’t get any. Suddenly, it becomes a very big deal, very quickly. Haircuts aren’t life-or-death, but neither was most of the life we were all accustomed to… it’s just nice to be heading back in that direction. Like I said, Stick With It™ … we’re getting there.
I forgot about those malts! And the Parcel Pickup was fantastic.
My Woodwards Food Floor was in Arbutus Village. I still remember what it smelled like, but I never got a malt there.
The HK Daily Report (2.8min read)
Reading this from the chair of my first hair appointment in three months. Yay!
I have an image of Woodward’s brand canned green beans in my head. White tin, that dark blue logo scrawled on it. I loved that store. Don’t recall the malts ????
Oakridge was my mall too. But I don’t remember frosted malts. I guess that was before my time. However, I am old enough to remember 2 Oakridge Malls ago. The Oakridge Mall they are building now is I believe the 4th version. I never saw the 1st version, built in 1959. Pic below.
There was a place at Dunbar and 29th that had some excellent frosted malts in the 90s. But it’s not there anymore either. It’s now a cheesy sports pub.
I am sensing a gap in the market. I think we need to open a frosted malt shoppe. Come one, come all, for the best (and only) frosted malts in Vancouver!
Malts at the basement in Pacific Centre Eaton’s!
I grew up toddling around the old open mall, descending into the underground library, watching the key maker at Woodward’s, finding treasures at the dollar forty-nine day, Tuesday weekly clearance sales, and counting my dimes to by sours at the candy counter. I remember the Purdy’s for special occasions.
Oh, and Raymond’s where I got my haircut until grade 5 when my hairdresser gave me an awe full short cut. Never went back.
tx for the nostalgia
My office for 33 years was Remax at Oakrige
on the 4th floor above the Royal Bank
We’d be there still but we got Demo-victed
My Woodward’s was in NW. Yes I was always bribed with malts ????
The description of the frosted malts and the scraping of the cup totally took me back. We also loved the cake donuts and hotdogs!
The Woodward’s frosted malts probably tasted better because they probably actually had malt in them. I’m not sure if the Wendy’s version does.
At the Woodward’s here in Victoria I remember being happy just watching the donut machine doing it’s thing!
So many great memories at Oakridge mall enjoying those malts and getting custom made put on t-shirts.
Wow- that brings back so many good memories. We used to race in the shopping carts down the outside ramps. That and the “reindeer “ outside every x- mas are what I remember. We spent so much time there!!
Chunky Woodward raised some great quarter horses at the Douglas Lake Ranch, which is now, ironically, owned by one of the Walton family. Would you rather go to an old Woodward’s or Walmart?
Is the curve going down? Asking for a friend
Oh my the nostalgia!! Where the heck did the years go??????????????
You missed the best store in Oakridge. Abercrombie & Fitch. No, not the modern day version which is simple an also-ran Gap or Hollister or Banana Republic.
I’m referring to the former version of A&F, which was something between Sharper Image and a “Robb Report” magazine transformed into a store.
Want a leather, actual size baby elephant? No problem. How about an electric Mercedes 500SL perfect replica at 1:10 scale that kids could drive WAY too fast?
That store was a wonder and it was a huge space. Could get lost in there for hours looking at all the cool gadgets.
Woodward’s food floor in Park Royal had the fresh doughnut machine. Mesmerizing to a 7-year-old!
And I love finding this kind of stuff that I inherited from my Dad …
The Bay downtown also had the Malts and Hot Dogs. My Grandmother and I would go there for a treat after shopping. Thanks for the Memories!!!
Change is inevitable! How is it that so many years ago your Mother was telling you stories…… now u are telling wonderful stories. It all began in your home. Knowing your Grandparents…. they too told stories. Life is filled with many stories. Glad to listen to yours????????????????
The Parcel Depot? Of course!
You’re a great story teller!
HK, you keep your audience engaged… which makes your blog the best I have seen… ever….. hope you publish something were we can go back and re read the stories. Thanks man.
Jenny La. line 1 pickup. Compliment…line 1.
Oh the malts…Arbutus Village WFF for me and Dad was a fan too so we always got the large!
Don’t remember the malts or the Parcel Depot but I remember that people always complained about how long the lines were at WFF and how you spent more time waiting to go through the cashier than shopping, lol! And I remember seeing Rick Hansen at Oakridge when he came back from his Man in Motion tour. I know he left from there too, but I’m not sure I was there for that. But he and his wife did a book signing there and I still have the book. Which reminds me, there used to be a bookstore at Oakridge! And I seem to remember buying needlework stuff as a teen. When I moved back from a little while in Calgary that’s where I got my car insurance and I’m *still* getting my insurance from Danny at Oakwest (even if they’ve had to move again in the mall, due to the current renovations). I’ve been through the display they have and I doubt we’ll be able to recognize Oakridge at all, once they finish this latest incarnation but it also looks like it may take years and years to do.
I would give my eye teeth to see a picture of you post haircut ????
I asked Bradley Freedman if he remembered the Woodward’s malted etc. He does- he thought the crusty round white bread buns with 3 pieces of salami was the best thing, and the malted being a big treat after school at ABJ elementary. Thinks The Bay downtown malted was better & wouldn’t eat any of that today, but was fun reminiscing!