632 Yates Street
Date of construction:
1878, 1885, 1888
This simple, vernacular commercial brick structure was built for Alfred
Bossi, a nephew of the noted Bossi family which built many of he
structures in Market Square. It replaced a wood structure on the site
and was intended to house the A. Bossi and C. Giesselmann grocery (also
licensed to sell liquor). The building has a handsome corbelled brick
cornice and originally had cast iron pilasters on the ground floor and
a wooden arcade along both street frontages. The brick has been
painted, obscuring the original signage. Additions were made to the
store in 1885 ($2,000) and a one-storey addition in January 1888
($1,500). By 1892, the building housed the Mirror Saloon, and
A. J. Rowbotham, grocer.
In 1907, it was the premises of C. H. Tite and Co., painters and C. W.
Blackstock and Co. real estate, financial and loan agents. When
Blackstock moved to Fort Street the the following year, his former
space was occupied by John Ringshaw's delicatessen. His new neighbor
was Direct Importing Tea and Coffee.
The building was repainted to highlight its architectural detailing and is now the home of a coffee shop.
This Hallmark Society project has been funded by the Hbc Foundation and the BC150-Heritage Legacy Fund.
Project manager and researcher: Helen Edwards.
Principal Photography & Consultant:
Ron Bukta, West Ventures Photography.