Businesses in White Rock

Kayak rentals in summer. Fresh seafood restaurants. Cheaper parking at the beach during the off season (Oct-April) will give people more incentive to go and check out the businesses when the beach weather is not the main attraction. More third spaces and small, local businesses for community events, live music nights, etc.

A pharmacy and/or grocery store by the beach; paddle board/ caiaque rentals; a really good Italian restaurant

Art galleries, specialty food, bakeries, artisian gift shops, boutiques, cafes, maybe a jazz club, something for adults to meet that involves art and culture. Owner operated establishments, eclectic creative venues. Preferably not chains. No more vape stores, spas that are not spas, and diversity in restaurant options etc. Maybe a boutique wine and spirits shop.

More boat rentals, water taxi, experience expeditions like whale watching, a restaurant like cactus club, earls, maybe a breka cafe and ofcourse an arcade - bowling alley - pool tables kinda pub would be nice. But it’s never happening hahaha

Small independant coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, galleries, workout studios, breweries, salons, any businesses that contribute to a lively community. White rock beach is in a state of disrepair currently and it’s so sad. We need more variety (not just more Indian restaurants), more caring business owners, and the city to step up in helping to curate a lively white rock beach 2.0.

Close off Johnston Rd from Russel Ave. to Thrift Ave. Make it pedestrian only. A win for everyone. Businesses will boom. Pedestrian only streets have introduced around the world and Canada and data shows it being very succeful

Less Indian restaurants

remove all restrictions on business, let the market decide how best to serve the community. the city should remove all marketing and advertising and its link to organizations like the BIA

Big Box stores to help with the taxes. Local small businesses but then no businesses can afford the outrageous tax bills in White Rock.
MPROVE THE WATERFRONT AREA by Marine Drive / Pier. It's an eyesore and neglected. An embarrassment to the city. Look at other cities and what they've done -- their waterfront areas are beautiful and welcoming.

Take ideas from the shipyards in north Vancouver! Better restaurants at the water , boathouse should be a stacked Granville island. An outdoor theatre we can use for weekend entertainment! A playground at the far west end! Stanley park, west van all have beautiful ocean front parks for families to enjoy and be a community! So much potential and we are missing the boat ! A commuter train from white rock to Vancouver , whistler, Seattle! Revitalize our city. Also, please please think of the youth (teens, early 20s) so they don’t have to go to Vancouver or Langley to be social. Lounges, karaoke bars(with character like The Rec Room Vancouver for fun evenings. Restaurant like . Nuba,Haven, -

paddleboard rentals.
book store
Thrift store
picnic and BBQ areas
patios and nightlife
Beach volleyball
Better parking

I'd like to see businesses that are incentivized to improve their services, and "curb appeal". Not by bylaws and threats to their landlords, but by support from the city staff to improve their locations. Everyone is focused on the things they don't like, but nobody asks the businesses what they actually need to improve. The city needs to be part of the solution with actions, not surveys that produce reports that go absolutely nowhere useful. Knowing about a problem and ignoring it doesn't make it go away. Want better frontage on buildings? Get the planning department to proactively help the businesses with the permit & engineer requirements. Want better diversity of shops and services? Offer a "unique business grant" or fast-tracked permit processing. Ultimately the market will decide the winners and losers in business, not the city. But we all want the same thing: A thriving and vibrant business community supported by an efficient staff and pragmatic city council.

White Rock has more than enough nail salons, vape shops, used clothing, thrift stores and physios. How about some book stores, a real quality bakery, and good quality restaurants up town? Encourage East and West Beach business properties to be cleaned up, offer incentives, instead of bringing in food trucks. Let good restaurants thrive on Marine Drive instead of doing nothing for them and allowing the businesses to wither and decay.

We went to Steveson and the set up there is so lovely. Great coffee spots. Lovely promenade for bikes and walkers. Museum with incredible walk and view ( like Stewart’s farm). Great choice of seafood restaurants fancy and takeaway that you can sit on the benches and enjoy the view. Possibly an art space where visitors could buy keepsake, paintings cards handmade curated gifts. Breakfast spots not just bars. Look what they’ve done at the North Shore shipyards. Friday night market with music and beer gardens. Pop up food and well supported restaurants that show diversity.

Lower the property taxes so that the lease doesn’t have to be as high. No more repetitive Indian restaurants. Different types of cuisine, maybe have an actual HOA so that things can’t be repetitive.
Proper parking, enough for the restaurants to thrive.
Playground.
Agreement with the indigenous so that their land can be utilized and cared for. Play nice with their land and pay to use it.
Have that playground back.
Have activities that bring the people together.

White Rock needs strong, decisive leadership to reverse the current trend of decay and restore public safety, transforming Marine Drive into a vibrant, year-round destination modeled after Sidney, Fort Langley, Ladner, or Cloverdale—not suburban sprawl.

To build a sustainable local economy, the city must prioritize active, family-friendly businesses over vacant storefronts, vape shops, and ink parlours that strain bylaw resources. Anchor restaurants, cafes with outdoor seating, and essential everyday amenities—like a small local grocery store—will give residents a reason to visit Marine Drive year-round, ensuring the community supports the strip rather than relying solely on seasonal tourism.

To help businesses survive beyond four months of summer trade, government action is needed. Commercial rent controls, targeted subsidies, and free winter parking will incentivize local visits and foster long-term stability. Strong policy decisions—not photo ops—will turn our waterfront around.

A cafe with a book shop or even a comic book shop. A cat cafe that helps local shelters. A hibachi grill or hot pot restaurant would be fun for locals and visitors!

Clothing Boutiques, more variety of restaurants….seafood, Italian

How about a market days on Marine Drive (in one or two of the parking lots). Or ANYTHING other than another Indian restaurant. Bring back sandcastle days - sell tickets if you have to for a minimal amount to help control the costs. Food truck events to help liven up the food choices. And for goodness sakes - GIVE YOUR MARINE BUSINESSES RELIEF IN THE WINTER. Bring back free parking from Oct 1 to April 30. (Or at least SIGNIFICANTLY decrease it). Stop focusing on that area right at the pier - NO ONE CARES. As a resident of the community for 50 years, it’s embarrassing to see the state of the business fronts. Use those funds to help provide business frontage improvement funds. We need to bring back ‘fantasy yogurt’, a decent spa service, a VARIETY of burger joints, donut shop, garden / gift store, a killer pizza place (ask Chad’s pizza in maple ridge) and for the love of all things holy - PLEASE take a look at what Fort Langley has going on and WHY their businesses thrive.

Maybe cheaper parking would help our local shops and restaurants actually make a go of it during the fall and winter months. I’ve lived in White Rock for 26 years, and honestly, I feel like the strip is in the worst shape I’ve ever seen it. We hardly ever go down to the beach anymore, which is really sad considering what a beautiful place it is and what it used to feel like.