Businesses in White Rock

There are currently no anchor retailers on marine drive that are a draw. Too many not great restaurants. Too many random item shops and no flow. Bring in some clothing, beauty, sports, swim type stores. Or even try to do some exciting pop ups to draw people during the fall/winter months. Do bigger retailers want smaller express type stores/pop ups to trial? Think Sephora, indigo, everything wine, etc. also are their noise regulations in place for blaring car music?

I like this idea that someone else wrote "The city should own one of the waterfront properties and use it as an events space, pop-up space, or a kitchen share."

I would like to see less vape shops, or at least force them to pretty up their store front. They are a sad eyesore. At least Little Bud Cannabis made an effort with their store front.

Independently owned, boutique restaurants like we had historically - Giraffe, Pearl, Fronds, the French bistro, cielos, iguanas, watts cooking, Pavlos...all of these community corners stones have been replaced by South Asian restaurants (this is not a rant against South Asian restaurants, just a suggestion that variety is needed to draw visitors)

White Rock needs a stronger mix of businesses that serve residents year-round, not just waterfront visitors. We have many restaurants, but too many offer similar choices. I would love more variety: a quality casual burger/grill, bakery or deli, healthy cafés, fresh food options and reasonably priced family-friendly restaurants. Marine Drive (waterfront) needs better access to everyday necessities. Our small east beach neighbourhood convenience store could be a wonderful community asset, with fresh juices, produce, prepared foods and useful grocery basics. Instead, part of its focus has shifted to vaping products, which does little to meet residents’ daily needs. I would also like to see White Rock encourage independent bookstores, art and craft shops, local makers and businesses that support fitness, wellness and healthy living. We need fewer repetitive businesses and more thoughtful, healthy choices that make White Rock a vibrant, walkable community for residents year-round.

More businesses that focus on the natural beauty of the area - like the paddleboarding place. We have too much of a party atmosphere already - think Tofino not Coney Island. We need much more police patrols on foot, bikes and cars. It isn't safe for young women down there at night, and so now they don't come alone or at all. I would like to invite a chain restaurant like the keg, cactus, etc to take over the Boathouse. It can't be left to sit with it's awning frames uncovered - looks awful. The market is saturated with Indian restuarants and most are empty. For all the people that still harp about parking, they need to move on. The city has already invested so much time and community committee time in exploring all options for cost reduction. The reality is that free or cheap parking has consequences. Given the anti-social evening behaviour of guests partying in cars, organized crime elements and litter, free parking would only invite more nonsense.

FGS!! Support the beach front businesses!! Provide voucher parking for those using the businesses, put a standard of character and form on renovation front and b new builds to a Beach Theme format. Put a limit on the number of type of restaurants permitted. There are SEVEN South Asian restaurants there at present, that’s rediculous!!!!

The storefronts need cleaning up & renovations, affordable parking, mainstream restaurants, but also a wider variety of choices, dogs welcomed with more bylaw presence, a donut shop, fresh produce, home goods/ clothing/ beauty. Places like Rosie’s Burgers, HEAL smoothies, islands cafe, cactus, and some small hidden gems.

More variety in restaurants as in no more ice cream shops and Indian restaurants! Cute quaint breweries and coffee shops would be a nice addition!

A daily market of Granville island style would also be a great. Yes we have the farmers market uptown but I think a year round market with local vendors would do very well.

If there were to be more restaurants added I think the style should continue as it started with places like Uli’s, Five and Zapoteca. Even though Zapoteca hasn’t been around forever it adds more diversity to the food selection so more of that please!

Ensure a variety of restaurants are only allowed and not so many of one ethnicity. Fish and chips is what people want at the beach. A few destination dinner places too would help. Also actively work on lobbying owners to fill the empty buildings. Find creative ways to do that. Increase foot traffic by increasing and advertising shuttle services. Open up free parking on the roads above the beach so families can go and park for free.


That big cornerstone restaurant with the big open deck on the roof was so great for bringing visitors. Now it just seems sad down there and rough at night with huge groups of young men prowling around.

If you can't get restaurants in there then put in stores for shopping for clothes or gifts or souvenirs. Just don't leave so many buildings empty. Find ways to encourage owners of the spaces to reduce rents and get businesses in.

Engage in various fairs during the summer. Bring them in. Allow patio seating out on the sidewalk like during Covid.

Art gallery featuring local talent? A tribute to the Semiahmoo and greater Salish cultures?

Less Indian Restaurants on Marine! We need beach fare &/or higher end restaurants… I like Indian food but NOT at the beach! Indian is the only type of restaurant on the strip now!

I’m sorry, but anything but Indian there is just too much of an influx of Indian restaurants. I would love to see some boutique bistros, and some jewellery and retail shops come back to the strip. Also, I would really love to be able to park down there again with reasonable rates. I haven’t been down there for two years because of your parking expansion

All the empty restaurants are Indian, and they keep opening more. More burger and , fish n chip shops

Less ethnic food and more seafood or at the very least the types of restaurants that used to be there. An Oyster bar, a high end seafood restaurant. Try to attract some of the successful chains that exist in Vancouver like the Sequoia Group or Viaggio Group.A Store that sell nice beach clothes and hats. A place that does high tea. A vendor that rents paddle boards, kayaks etc. A fish monger. Ultimately something like what Granville Island and North Van have done with having different food options, butcher, chocolate vendor etc

I loved in Whiterock for five years now. I love this City so much! I love how it is quieter and more community like. I think that we need more diversity when it comes to restaurants on the strip. I myself love Indian cuisine, but I don’t think that we need five or six of the same type of restaurants on one small strip. I was very sad to see the boathouse leave because that was a restaurant that reflects the Whiterock strip. With the seafood and the music and the rooftop. I would love to see more restaurants that reflect the area that we live in.I also think that it would be nice to see some newer modern clothing stores. That reflect not only the beach theme of the Whiterock strip, but more modern clothing trends that would be more appealing to the younger generation that is been moving into Whiterock.

I’ve recently been to Lonsdale Quay and Steveston and we need a more unique take on our waterfront like them. These places show care and thought and unfortunately the White Rock waterfront just looks outdated and not cohesive. Stores look old, and nothing really draws me there and when I’ve talked to friends who live in Vancouver, Burnaby, etc. they don’t really see the appeal of our waterfront and only visit it when they are out in White Rock visiting us.

We need more variety of restaurants as well. We can’t keep having only Indian restaurants and ice cream shops dominant the food scene. There is so many diverse cultures here that we need to be bringing in more food options and looking for unique ideas, like a public market, vintage/antique stores, and other retailers.

Growing up the beachfront had a variety of different shops and stores. There were art stores, antique shops, some clothing stores, souvenirs and only a handful of restaurants. This made it an interesting destination year round. There are currently five Indian restaurants. That is enough and I would strive for diversity of experience and not more eateries. Parking is also quite expensive and as a result many businesses can’t afford the overhead. You need foot traffic. More security after dark and no dogs. It’s no longer an option to sit on the grass when dogs have used it as a toilet all day. Simply vile. It’s become an eat, walk or leave vibe. Locals enjoy it by day and it’s now taken over at night by crowds of intimidating youth that stand in the middle of the promenade without consideration of others. Loving the music festivals and markets. More of this arts and culture experience for the community.

Sports bar and restaurants, Pacific Northwest food restaurants and cafes would be nice.

Drop in BINGO,.

I would love if White Rock had a Fort Langley Vibe but keeping the vibrant seashore aesthetic. We need more charm of a quaint, seaside village. More beautiful trendy coffee shops, delicious bakeries, diverse foods of all price ranges. More of the Canadian classic culture foods that we are known for in Canada. Show our heritage.

Maybe a wine and or oyster bar. A farmers market, a small version of Granville Island. Great to pick up beautiful cheeses etc.

The pier can be so busy maybe there can be something done either a larger pier, a left and tight walking zone. Maybe more benches. Small coffee shop at the end of the pier.

Parking is starting to get very expensive and accumulates fast while you’re waiting for your dinner reservations. Maybe free parking validated by the restaurant. Free fall/winter park

More specialized Canadian boutiques type stores to explore. Unique and interesting products to bring people to White Rock. Maybe Artists studios or Canadian crafters market.