Vancouver Shop Owners on Building Community During Construction Part 2

Small business owners on Main Street Vancouver speak with Steena Trecha about staying open through the city’s Main Street Promise infrastructure project, a major excavation that has reshaped the street in front of their doors through spring 2026.

On a rainy April afternoon in downtown Vancouver, with construction equipment filling Main Street and foot traffic nearly gone, six shop owners were behind their counters: working, welcoming, and building something.

Part 2 Featuring

Nicole Wallace: Vancouver’s Communications Manager.

Reverie and Rosemary: Stephanie on curating a space where everyone is welcome and the hidden brick wall discovered during two years of renovation.

Cariño Mexican Specialty Coffee: Melissa Mancias on Lotería wine nights, Mexican specialty coffee, and building a gathering space rooted in Mexican culture.

Big D’s Barbershop: Dani Wood on creating an inclusive barbershop in Vancouver where everyone can come as their whole selves on the corner of 11th and Main.