Main Street is practically synonymous with hip in Vancouver, but in the early 1990s, that wasn’t so. At the time, the stretch between King Edward and 20th Avenue was a mix of suspicious massage parlours, vacant properties and Chinese-owned hair salons. But one person’s empty storefront is another’s retail opportunity.
In 1993, a group of five friends found a store window they loved and secured the space. Inside, the women opened a consignment store offering gently used clothing and accessories, and vintage and flea market finds; they called it Front & Company. The original consignors were “people who went out of town often and brought things in that weren’t available in Vancouver” says manager Kat Caparas.
Over the past two decades, Front& Company has nurtured a devoted roster of customers and over 5,000 consignors. Today, shoppers can find designer handbags and off-the-runway styles mixed in with vintage sweaters and classic wool coats. Everyone who visits has a unique style, and Kat is confident there’s something for each customer.
