industries

The businesses our editors visited most in 2024

These are the places that kept us going this year

By The Editors /

Writing about the businesses our team members visited the most has become somewhat of a tradition at BCBusiness. We did it in 2023 and 2022, and now we’re back with another stellar list.  

In a year where resilience became the buzzword for businesses, 2024 pushed many to the limit. Wallets stayed tight, and several businesses fought to keep their doors open and their communities close. As we shut the door on 2024, we’re celebrating the places that made it memorable for us. Maybe you should check them out, too. 

Nathan Caddell, editor-in-chief 

Banana Grove Market & Deli
2705 E 22nd Ave, Vancouver

The moment it was suggested that we put together our end of the year articles, I knew I was in trouble. For this post, the businesses we visited the most in 2024, I had two options: tell the truth and risk blowing up the spot of the best deli in town or lie through my teeth. I’m choosing the former because it’s my public duty as editor in chief of this magazine.

I don’t remember the exact day in the spring of this year that I first visited Banana Grove. But I do know that every day after it wasn’t the same. There is simply Before Banana Grove and After Banana Grove. No other time-keeping mechanism exists.

By most measures, the little hole in the wall grocery shop on 22nd just past Nanaimo is exactly that. But push past the usual cornerstore fare and make your way to the deli. There you’ll almost definitely find a line of seasoned Italian grandparents waiting patiently. Because they know. They know this is the only deli in town where high quality and low prices marry each other in such a sensational way. We’re talking ham, turkey and salami at a way higher quality than the likes of the big grocery chains and around $2 cheaper per 100 grams.

Yes, I like sandwiches, how can you tell? But you can find insane deals on all cuts of meat and a variety of cheeses here. Go to the back, grab a number and prepare to have your mind blown. Will I regret the longer lines this blurb might lead to? Maybe. But hey, sometimes you do things for the greater good.

Stacey McLachlan, Vancouver magazine editor-in-chief

Branches and Knots
3128 W Broadway, Vancouver

You know in the movies, during a “character getting their life back together montage,” the protagonist will walk by a store window, contemplate the mannequin for a moment, and then emerge from the store moments later (the magic of cinema!) dressed just like that mannequin? This is how I personally interact with a little boutique in my neighbourhood called Branches and Knots. They carry a bunch of designers from Japan and Montreal and the displays always inspire me to action: maybe I could be the type of woman who wears a turtleneck under a button up and three chunky sweaters and should I get a beret? Only one way to find out. I regularly walk in (particularly as I’m experiencing a mild panic about what to wear to an event) and demand to be styled just like the fashionable headless girl in the window: a super-soft oversized cardigan and skirt set; a sweater that seems to have no shoulders; a giant linen shirt slashed with paintbrush marks. Everything’s weird and cool and makes me feel like I should be on display in a window somewhere. They’d better be ready with a fresh look for me soon… I’ve got our Power 50 awards coming up. (The waitlist is open now, so you hopefully you can come too, but you’re not allowed to get your party look at Branches, promise?)

 

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Rebekah Ho, digital marketing manager

Forus Care
2929 Cambie St., Vancouver

I started getting my nails done because I wanted a nice manicure for my wedding. That was over a year ago, and the nail addiction hasn’t stopped. If you want proof of how often I go to Forus, they give you a stamp card where you get $10 off your 10th set, and when I handed them my filled-out card, my nail tech smiled and said, “You’re the first person to complete this!”

While I know that getting manicures done is a luxury, it’s not always relaxing. Nail salons can often be hectic spaces where customers are getting rushed through, but at Forus, I never feel that way. The space is beautifully designed, the nail techs are gentle and kind (shoutout to Mohi, who has been doing my nails forever) and the playlist is always a vibe. Not to mention, they use non-toxic products, and the nail art is gorgeous. It’s safe to say, they nail it every time.

 

 

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Dani Wright, managing editor

Batch, Plaza of Nations
770 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver

I moved to Vancouver at the precipice of the pandemic almost five years ago, and since then it’s been a bit of a struggle to find third spaces that aren’t just my closest friends living rooms. But once Batch opened it changed all of that. There’s ample seating around the glorious firepits which means friends can come and go as they please. Plus the selection of drinks is impeccable, from Port Coquitlam’s Nice Life cocktails to local beer, wine and BC-made Not Too Sweet sodas, there’s something for everyone. This also includes mulled wine in the winter because despite being located outdoors, this is a year-round operation.

The Plaza of Nations locations (the other one is in Kits) also has regular live music as well as rotating food trucks so if you get hungry you don’t need to leave. It became the go-to meet up spot for my friends over summer, and now that we’ve continued the tradition we’re well into fall, I’m pretty sure it’s going to remain that way.

Rushmila Rahman, associate editor

Olive and Piper
343 Railway St Unit #401, Vancouver (head office)

Gifting has been stressing me out all year. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries—big life moments with friends getting new jobs and growing their families. Did I find myself in a 2 a.m. Black Friday spiral? Maybe. Did I convince myself an espresso cup was the perfect gift, only to wake up and cringe at the thought? More than once. 

All this to say, Vancouver-based Olive and Piper was my saving grace this year. 

I own several pieces of jewelry from Olive and Piper, and we’ve covered founder Tania Yan’s story as well. I love that the brand offers so many different styles and options. What I’ve come to learn is, everyone else I know loves gifts from here, too. Its Thea Drop earrings ($64) are among my most-loved jewelry pieces—I’ve worn them to nearly every special occasion in the last two years—and its elegant Tuyet Drop earrings ($69) and Ona Crystal necklace ($97) are some of the most-praised presents I’ve given in 2024. Turns out the best gifts really do come in small packages. 

 

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Anicka Quin, VP of content

Fable
2871 Granville St, Vancouver

I started collecting Fable’s dinnerware during the pandemic, and I’m still obsessively adding to my collection. All the bowls! (Literally all the bowls – pasta, breakfast, dessert, little bowls). All the plates! (Ditto.) I picked up my favourite water pitcher from them this year, though it mainly served double duty as a vase on my entry console this summer, when I decided to treat myself to farmers market flowers each week. The unbreakable glassware is my new obsession (I’ve got a gift for managing to break nearly all my glasses—but not these delicate-yet-sturdy tumblers) and I’ve got my eyes on mugs next. I will not rest til completion. Thankfully, the Vancouver-based Fable keeps expanding their wares, so the finish line remains delightfully (for a homewares-obsessed person like myself) just always a little out of reach.