London Drugs has announced that it will close its long-standing store in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on February 1, marking the end of a 17-year presence in the Woodward’s Building. The decision removes a major retail and pharmacy anchor from one of the city’s most socially and economically complex neighbourhoods and raises renewed questions about the long-term viability of large-format retail in the area.
The pharmacy and general merchandise location, which opened in 2009 as part of the Woodward’s redevelopment, has operated at a sustained loss for much of its tenure. According to the company, ongoing safety concerns, repeated incidents involving staff, and chronic financial underperformance ultimately made continued operations untenable. The London Drugs Woodward’s closure will also leave uncertainty around the broader retail future of the historic mixed-use development.
A Longstanding Anchor at Woodward’s
The Woodward’s Building occupies a prominent place in Vancouver’s urban history. Once home to a flagship department store, the site was redeveloped in the late 2000s into a large-scale mixed-use project combining residential towers, institutional space, and ground-level retail. London Drugs was positioned as a cornerstone tenant when the redevelopment opened in 2009, with the expectation that its presence would help stabilize the retail environment and provide essential services to both residents and workers.
Located at the corner of Hastings and Abbott streets, the store offered a full-service pharmacy alongside electronics, health and beauty products, photo services, and household essentials. Its role extended beyond retail, serving as a critical access point for prescription services in a neighbourhood with limited healthcare infrastructure.
Despite those intentions, the store struggled to achieve financial sustainability. Over the course of its operation, London Drugs absorbed losses that exceeded $10 million, making the location one of the weakest performers in its network.
Safety and Operational Challenges
Safety concerns emerged as a defining issue at the Woodward’s location. Over many years, staff were subjected to repeated incidents of verbal harassment and physical violence, even as the company invested heavily in security measures. While London Drugs worked with local authorities and implemented additional safeguards, the day-to-day environment remained difficult for employees.
Company leadership acknowledged that conditions had improved in recent months following targeted policing initiatives in the Downtown Eastside. However, those improvements came after years of strain, and they were not sufficient to reverse the store’s long-term challenges. Customer traffic remained inconsistent, operating costs continued to rise, and the store never approached a sustainable break-even point.
The decision to close was finalized as the store’s lease approached expiration, prompting a broader review of whether remaining at the site could be justified from a business and employee safety perspective.
Impact on Employees and Customers
London Drugs has stated that it will work to minimize disruption for staff affected by the closure. Employees at the Woodward’s store have been offered opportunities to transfer to other London Drugs locations in the Vancouver area or to explore alternative roles within the company. The retailer expressed appreciation for the commitment shown by the store’s team over many years of challenging conditions.
For customers, particularly those relying on the pharmacy, London Drugs says it has committed to facilitating prescription transfers to nearby locations or to pharmacies of the customer’s choosing. While this ensures continuity of care, the loss of an easily accessible pharmacy represents a significant gap for residents of the Downtown Eastside.
Broader Questions for the Woodward’s Development
The London Drugs Woodward’s closure also raises questions about the future of the retail component within the development itself. With London Drugs exiting, attention has turned to the status of other major tenants, including the Nester’s Market grocery store. While no decisions regarding Nester’s have been announced, the departure of such a large anchor inevitably alters the retail dynamics of the site.
The Woodward’s project was conceived as a catalyst for neighbourhood revitalization, combining market and non-market housing with educational and cultural institutions. Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts remains a significant presence, contributing daytime foot traffic and institutional stability.
However, retail relies on consistent customer volumes and perceptions of safety, factors that have proven difficult to sustain in this location.
Retail Exit Reflects a Wider Pattern
London Drugs is not the first major organization to leave the immediate area. Over the past several years, a number of retailers and institutions have scaled back or withdrawn entirely from the Downtown Eastside. Coffee shops, financial institutions, and municipal offices have cited similar concerns around safety, vandalism, and staff well-being.
These departures have contributed to a sense of contraction in the local retail ecosystem, with vacant storefronts reducing street-level activity and further discouraging investment. The loss of London Drugs, given its size and service role, is among the most significant exits to date.
A drastic and embarrassing failure by Vancouver authorities. Mayor Sim should be held to account and issue a statement. A major multi-billion dollar employer operating essential retail should never be on the losing end of rampant crime and public disorder. If I were London Drugs I’d have my lawyers look into litigation. What a disgrace.
They need more room for people who shoot up, more taxes, more crime, less services. All while you get a parking ticket next to an encampment with dope smokers.
Rest 2030 well under way, no conspiracy, all western nations in lock set towards the same end goal.
Keep supporting your left or right side in your illusion of options.