By Promod Puri

From its northern tip in Chinatown to its southern stretches, Vancouver's Main Street showcases a vibrant history of South Asian business enterprises spanning from the 1960s to the late 1980s.

Early Culinary Ventures:

The Punjab Restaurant, a culinary landmark at the gateway of Chinatown, holds the distinction of being the first Indian restaurant in Greater Vancouver. Run by Sardar Manmohan Singh, it became a hub for experiencing the rich flavours of Indian cuisine. Mr. Singh frequently hosted dinner parties for visiting Indian stars and artists. On one such occasion, as an invited newspaperman, I had a memorable and informal encounter with the famed singer Mohd. Rafi and comedian Mehmood.

Expansion Along Main Street:

Further south on Main Street, Mr. Pabla established the Himalaya Restaurant at 6th Avenue. Across the street, a single building housed multiple Indian businesses, including The Link newspaper and Sushma-Nizar’s radio and TV studio. Around this area, Naresh Shukla launched his Bombay Sweet Shop. The oldest Indian restaurant in Vancouver, the Sitar at 7th and Main, still operates today. Nearby, a small cinema theatre run by an enterprising Indian businessman showed adult movies, adding to the area's eclectic character.

The late Mr. Tara Singh Hayer ran his popular newspaper, The Indo-Canadian Times, at the corner of Main Street and Kingsway. During the height of Punjab’s separatist movement, the Khalistan ‘embassy’ also had an office in the area, marking it as a significant location for political activity within the community.

Retail and Services:

Paul’s Plumbing at Main and 30th was likely the first plumbing supply store owned by an Indian in Vancouver. Before this, the late Hakam Gill had established a furniture business on Main Street. A grocery store owned by Sadru-bhai became a popular spot for locals to buy dals and spices, offering an alternative to Patels on Commercial Street.

The Rise of the Punjabi Market:

A remarkable feature of Main Street’s South Asian enterprises was the establishment of the Punjabi Market in the early 1970s. Pioneered by Mr. Sucha Claire, who started his clothing and drapery business at Main and 51st Avenue, this initiative grew from a single shop into a bustling hub of Indian-run businesses. The area quickly transformed into a multi-million-dollar business district, with a wide array of stores from grocery shops to boutiques, solidifying its status as a central commercial area for the South Asian community.

Promod Puri is a veteran journalist and author and founder of the first Indo-Canadian English language newspaper The LINK.