Said to be North America’s first and largest “Little Punjab”, the Punjabi Market neighbourhood in Vancouver, BC refers to a 3 block commercial district on Main St, from East 48th to East 51st.
Once upon a time, this neighbourhood was a thriving hub for Vancouver’s South Asian population, with over 300 shops, an array of restaurants, and even the first Punjabi street sign in the world to be installed outside of Asia.
Over the years, as the neighbourhood has evolved, many businesses have shuttered or moved to other South Asian hubs across the Lower Mainland, leaving the vibrancy of the original Punjabi Market to slowly wane and fade.
These days, a lot of confusion swirls around Punjabi Market. Is it actually a market? What is there to do there? And, for some, is it even worth visiting these days?
Don’t worry – in this post, we’ll be outlining everything you need to know about visiting Punjabi Market, from important historical context to what activities you can expect to find there.
If you’ve ever wondered what there is to do in Punjabi Market, then this is the post for you. Read on for our full guide!
A Brief History of Punjabi Market
In its hey day, Punjabi Market was seen as the go-to gathering place for the local South Asian community, whether for shopping, dining, or celebrations. For many Indo-Canadian immigrants, it was a safe space to get a taste of home, or shop for special products they didn’t have access to elsewhere.
While it has “market” in its name, it’s important to note that Punjabi Market was far more than a large shopping district – it was a neighbourhood and community that played a vital role in the day to day lives of countless Indo-Canadians.
Punjabi Market’s roots can be traced back to May 1970, when Sucha Singh Claire opened Shaan Saari with the hope of building an ethnic enclave similar to what he had witnessed in London’s Southhall. Other South Asian businesses soon followed suit, including the legendary Himalaya Restaurant, which is still open today, five decades later.
With time, this three block district on South Main filled up with jewelry shops, fabric shops, supermarkets, and eateries – with a total of over 300 shops at its peak.
By the 1980s, the area was already known as Vancouver’s “Little Punjab”, and it continued to thrive for decades as a vital hub of the South Asian community in Vancouver.
Fast forward to the late 2000s however, and the market began to show signs of decline. Affordable housing prompted many Indo-Canadian immigrants to move further out into other cities in the Lower Mainland, and with time, those hundreds of shops began to shut their doors, leaving only a few that remain today.
Is Punjabi Market Worth Visiting?
Honestly speaking, if you are visiting Vancouver for the first time, or live locally but want a cool new neighbourhood to check out, Punjabi Market is probably not what you’re looking for.
While decades ago, this was a lively neighbourhood filled with shops, restaurants, and fun events for the local community, a lot has changed.
For one, growing South Asian communities in other parts of the Lower Mainland have created new hubs for South Asian culture, fulfilling the role that Punjabi Market once served.
Rising rent prices (and more recently, a global pandemic) have also meant many historic businesses have had to shut down, leaving the neighbourhood a lot emptier than it was in its hey day.
So, truthfully, we would say that Punjabi Market isn’t a neighbourhood (at the moment) that we think is worth going out of your way to see.
The Future Of Punjabi Market
All the said, we are optimistic for Punjabi Market’s future.
In recent years, the establishment of The Punjabi Market Collective has meant new efforts to rejuvenate the neighbourhood and restore it to its former vibrant glory.
Initiatives such as “Murals in the Market” and “Marigolds in the Market” (which we’ll discuss below) have helped pave the way for this progress, which we hope will only continue to strengthen with time!
Who knows – maybe in a few years, Punjabi Market will once again be a go-to destination in Vancouver for experiencing South Asian culture and cuisine.
Things to do in Vancouver’s Punjabi Market
So, what is there to actually do at Punjabi Market these days? Here is a short list for you to check out, if you do happen to find yourself in the area.
Take a self-guided walking tour
In the summer of 2021, the Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective and Indian Summer Festival partnered to create a self-guided audio tour of Punjabi Market.
It’s superbly well-produced, and provides a lot of historical context and information to help you navigate what remains of Punjabi Market now.
The tour is entirely self-paced, and easy to follow, with stories contributed by community members and locals with fond memories of the Punjabi Market’s glory days.
It may be difficult to imagine how different the neighbourhood looked only decades ago, but this tour does a great job of explaining the neighbourhood’s evolution over the years.
So, be sure to have this as #1 on your list of things to do in Punjabi Market. It really does help contextualize the neighbourhood and bring it to life!
Admire some murals
While a few years back, street murals wouldn’t have been the first thing to come to mind when talking about Punjabi Market, these days, it is, thanks to an initiative known as “Murals in the Market”.
This collaboration with the Vancouver Mural Festival invited local BIPOC artists to create a series of large murals around Punjabi Market, injecting some vibrancy and colourful flair to the neighbourhood.
Try a butter chicken poutine
Roots Cafe is a bright and airy Punjabi Market eatery that offers a blend of hot/cold café classics, alongside poutine, mac and cheese and other comfort food classics.
A standout must-try from the menu though is their butter chicken poutine, which feels like the most beautiful representation of South Asian-Canadian fusion cuisine…. possibly ever.
… And hey, if you’re feeling especially gluttonous, they also have a butter chicken pizza.
Stock up on South Asian spices and groceries
Of the few historic businesses that remain at Punjabi Market, Punjabi Food Centre is among the most famous.
Since 1993, this neighbourhood institution has offered an affordable place for locals to stock up on all the staples and supplies needed for South Asian cooking, from walls and bins stocked with spices to an array of fresh herbs and vegetables.
So, if you want to enjoy a quintessentially ‘Punjabi Market’ experience, then stopping by here is a must.
Enjoy an Indian meal
Back in the day, Punjabi Market was known as one of the best places in Vancouver to enjoy authentic South Asian cuisine.
These days, we have a lot more choices available, given thriving South Asian communities elsewhere in the Lower Mainland, like in Surrey.
Nonetheless, if you find yourself in Punjabi Market and are wondering what to do, there are still some historic restaurants around that you can try out.
Himalaya Restaurant is a famous spot that many consider a neighbourhood institution, although more recent reviews haven’t been very promising. The inside remains largely unchanged since its glory days back in the 80s, so this would be the place to go for an affordable and nostalgic bite.
All India Sweets is another long-time Punjabi Market eatery that is still open for visitors, even decades after its original opening.
Shop for South Asian fabrics and jewelry
Once upon a time, Punjabi Market was a go-to destination for Vancouver’s South Asian population to stock up on fabrics and jewelry.
While the selection these days isn’t as extensive as it once was, there are still a handful of jewellers and fabric shops to explore in the area, making shopping one of the neighbourhood’s top must-dos.
Keep an eye out for art installations or pop-up events
While the streets of Punjabi Market can be relatively quiet these days, there have been a few different public art initiatives and pop-up events that have emerged in the past few years in an effort to revitalize and brighten up the community.
On our last visit for example, we spotted the installation known as “Marigolds in the Market”, which was installed in May 2021 with a goal “to invoke feelings of festiveness, connection, and happiness.”
We’d recommend keeping an eye on the official Punjabi Market Collective website for the latest scoop on events and initiatives.
Stock up on rare, retro snacks at Dank Mart
Last but not least, one unique thing you can do in the Punjabi Market area is visit a market of a different kind: Dank Mart, a new age bodega of sorts, delighting locals and visitors from all over the city since Spring 2020.
The selection here is truly extensive, from donut cereal and lemon Oreos to mango dragonfruit Fanta and gummy Smurfs.
While there is now a popular location in Downtown Vancouver, it’s important to note that this one in Punjabi Market is the original… so be sure to check it out on your next visit.
Did we miss any of your favourite things to do in Punjabi Market?
Let us know in the comments so we can add more recommendations to our list!