With the help of the Gastown Business Improvement Society and the Vancouver archives you can now learn about each building in Gastown through the Gastown Blog Building History Series. Enjoy and keep posted for more history from the Gastown Blog.
In this week’s addition, we are profiling the Oppenheimer Building, home to the Warehouse Studio.
Check out our previous Building History posts on the History section in our blog!
Oppenheimer Building – 100 Powell Street
Built: 1886
Architect: Noble Stonestreet Hoffar
Architectural Style: Victorian Commercial
PHOTO: VCA Bu P662 1889
Built by David and Isaac Oppenheimer in 1886 as their wholesale grocery warehouse, this building is significant as Vancouver’s oldest brick building. It was one of the first buildings to be constructed after Vancouver was destroyed by fire on June 13th, 1886.
Born in Germany, the Oppenheimer brothers came to B.C. after the California gold rush where they supplied goods to prospectors moving North to the Fraser River and Cariboo gold rush. David Oppenheimer began buying land in present-day Vancouver in 1878 and he and his brother Isaac opened the first wholesale grocery house in Vancouver in 1887. In 1891, they imported the first Japanese oranges to Vancouver, beginning a Christmas tradition that is still very popular today.
PHOTO: VCA Port P1789 – David Oppenheimer, 1893
David Oppenheimer was often called the ‘father’ of Vancouver and served as Mayor of the city from 1888 to 1891. He served as the first president of the Vancouver Board of Trade in 1887.
PHOTO: VCA Port P53 – Mrs. David Oppenheimer, 1870’s
The building is also known as The Warehouse Studio. It was converted to a recording studio by Canadian rock musician Bryan Adams in 1997. The care and accuracy of the restoration retains the historical integrity of the original structure. Some of The Warehouse Studios clients include Bon Jovi, Elton Jon, Elvis Costello, David Foster, AC/DC, Metallica, Tragically Hip and Stevie Nicks.
PHOTO: VCA Bu P683 - 1898
Oppenheimer. Now and Then
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