Gurpreet:

Let's begin part one of the Punjabi Market walking tour on the west side of Main Street. Our first stop is the Northwest corner of Main street and 51st Avenue. If you look up at the second set of street light posts, you'll see beautiful Musqueam band banners.

Here to tell us more about the banners is Debra Sparrow, who is a Musqueam weaver, artist and knowledge keeper. She is self-taught in Salish design, weaving, and jewelry making. Deborah also designed the logo for the Canadian men's and women's hockey team for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic winter games in Vancouver.

Please welcome Debra.

Debra Sparrow:

This banner is a representation of our history here in this land — throughout what you know as Vancouver. As we move a little bit away from here, we are acknowledged with Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh. But in this particular area of Vancouver, it is Musqueam territory. And so he (Chief Wayne) is happy to have these banners up to acknowledge our village Musqueam, which is really not far from here.

We drive past 49th and Main and 49th and Fraser...and always have acknowledged and seen the Punjabi Market but were never really stopped to take that moment. And maybe, the Punjabi market hasn't stopped to take the moment to know us. And so, this brings us together in opening a dialogue, and a relationship, hopefully, in the future. So, on behalf of chief Wayne, he'd like to, as we say in our culture, hold our hands up.

That we're making our way through the city again, whether it's by a banner, or whether it's blanketing the city as I have been working on.

Gurpreet:

Thank you, Debra.

And, while we're here at this corner, I'd like to bring to your attention the now-vacant building that was once home to the hottest fashion trends from the other side of the world. The walls may be covered in graffiti today, but if you look up, you can still see the outlines of the letters for Frontier Cloth House. Frontier was the staple fabric shop in Vancouver from the ’70s to the early 2000s. A Vancouver landmark, that carried wedding and special event attire. People from around the world would come to the Punjabi Market to visit Frontier Cloth House, and handpick from their selection of unique and beautiful clothing. Over time, Frontier made a name for itself as a high-end bridal boutique shop as well. It is one of the many shops to move across the Fraser River to Surrey, as the market has changed in recent years.

The building's current owner, Rattan Bagga, a supporter of the Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective, has plans of redeveloping the space into housing, along with street-level storefronts that will be home to an ethnic grocery store, and an Indian restaurant as well. He feels a duty to preserve the cultural heritage of the neighbourhood for the next generation, and envisions the Punjabi market developing into an area where young people will once again want to hang out.

Now, if you stand along the wall of the frontier building and look up the street towards the other shops, you'll see the yellow awning with the name Punjab Food Center written on the side. That's the next stop on our tour, so let's head there now.

As you make your way there, feel free to snap some selfies along the way. You'll notice that the few shops next to Frontier are also currently vacant. This has been the plight of many businesses that were once thriving on this block.

Mother India & Riwaaz Boutique are two of the shops that have endured and persevered through the tough times and still keep their doors open today, if you would like to take a peek.

As you arrive at 6635 Main Street, be prepared to have your sense of smell immediately evoked by the variety of spices that can be found inside the Punjab Food Center. Punjab Food Center is your one-stop-shop for everything on your shopping list. They carry fruits and vegetables, delightful specialty candy, the most aromatic spices and other goods such as nuts, chips, rice, lentils, flour, chai, dairy products, and baked goods. They've got it all.

Historically, the Punjabi market was always a place where Punjabi’s could come and get a job, or start a business. And that is exactly what Harinder Singh Toor did back in 1981. He faced a lot of racism and discrimination during those early years, but enjoyed the glory of the market at its height of business and has high hopes for the market and its future.

Let's hear it from Toor Uncle himself.

Harinder:

My name is Harinder Singh Toor, [and] I am from Punjab, India — [the city of] Namasher.

So I came with my mom and dad; my brother-in-law [sponsored] us to come to Canada. I came to Canada for a good future. We came [and] the first time we opened a business [was] in 1981 — under [the name] Toor Investments. You know, Toor Spices and Grocery Store... was located right across 51st and Main.

I came to start Punjab Food Center in 1993. [Doing the] grocery business in the Punjabi Market, I [think] I am serving five generations in Punjabi market, and I'm still serving and still working.

We were proud of everything with this Punjabi Market. You know, with everybody [getting] together and [building up] the Punjabi Market.

I am a member of the Punjabi Market Association since day one here in Punjabi Market, and uh, we built the Punjabi Market and we also built a good business, and we raise the family.

With the young generation with the youth association we made it in Punjabi Market (referring the the PMRC), and that's what we need. We in the Punjabi Market are getting too old now, and we can’t do..so much now, and we need to help to promote Punjabi Market. [The PMRC] are helping us promoting the Punjabi Market and doing very good job.

Well, we had some good time and bad time. Punjabi Market’s future is bright, and new [buildings are] coming, high density coming and maybe more people going to live here.

Gurpreet:

Thank you, Uncle-Ji. He also claims to have the best mangoes in town, by the way. So, head inside and judge for yourself, and don't forget to smell the spices.

(Music Interlude)

Now that your sense of smell is overloaded, and you've laid your eyes on all that delicious food inside Punjabi Food Centre, your stomach must be grumbling and craving some tasty treats. Fortunately, just a few steps down the street, one of the most legendary Indian restaurants in the city can help satiate your cravings. Let's head there now.

Located on Main and 50th is Himalaya Restaurant. Occupying the corner unit of Pabla’s Trade Centre, a half block long multiplex that was once home to over 30 businesses.

Remember to look both ways before crossing the street.