DUNBAR MART

A Traditional Convenience Store

You may have noticed a new convenience store has opened on Dunbar Street next to Starbucks, although it could have easily been a part of the community for years. Dunbar Mart conjures up memories of old Vancouver when independent convenience stores were found across the city. Today, few remain, and this little blast from the past is a breath of fresh air.

Zahid Mahmood also owns another convenience store in downtown Vancouver. Zahid had been operating his original business for five years when he got into a discussion with a friend who owned a Mac’s franchise. He suggested Zahid should consider opening a store in Dunbar. Zahid followed his advice and proceeded when he saw a former dry-cleaning business was for lease. After renovating the space with new flooring and paint, Dunbar Mart opened in late November 2021.

Dunbar Mart is a traditional convenience store with an emphasis on being neat and tidy.

Snack foods are carried along with many basic groceries. If you are running low on bathroom tissue, butter, canned goods, cereal, coffee creamer, ground coffee, milk, noodle, rice, and much more, Dunbar Mart may become your new go-to shop. Two hundred types of drinks are sold including Aloe Vera drinks, Jones cane sugar soda, Brew Dr. Kombucha, sparkling ICE, Jarritos fruit- flavoured sodas from Mexico, GoodDrink fruit flavoured bottled teas (a Fort Langley based company), energy drinks and all the North American soft drinks imaginable.

The store sells a great selection of confectionery, including chocolate bars and candies. European chocolates such as Milka from Germany and Jaffa Cakes from the U.K. are on the shelves along with Canadian chocolate bars.

If you haven’t been south of the border since 2020 and are craving American candy bars, look no further than Dunbar Mart.

You will find 5th Avenue candy bars, which have been an American staple since 1936. Other wellknown brands include Baby Ruth, 100 Grand, PayDay, Milky Way and Whoppers malted milk balls. Zahid brought in Abba-Zaba bars by special request. These chewy taffy bars are also rooted in history, dating back to the 1920s.

Three freezer cases are filled with numerous ice cream classics like Drumsticks, Hagen Daz, Snickers, Twix, and several varieties of Blue Bunny brand ice cream, including a tempting strawberry shortcake bar.

Floor space is limited, and Zahid respects neighbouring businesses, so he has chosen not to sell coffee or fresh food. My focus is on making my customers happy.

He will do his best to bring in products that clients request. People have noticed his sandwich board sign and come in to welcome him to the area, and Dunbar’s merchants have been equally friendly.

His clientele ranges from UBC students to children and families. He says, “Kids love it. They come here after school to seek out their favourite snacks and ice cream.”

Operating two enterprises means Zahid is always on the move. He heads to Dunbar Mart in the morning to open the shop and then sets off to purchase products for both stores and then check in on his other business. He says, “It does keep me busy, but I am really enjoying it.”

It is rewarding to see the growth of my business since it opened.

Dunbar Mart is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to midnight, but Zahid will consider extending the hours based on demand. His intention is always to put his customers’ needs first. Being part of this community is of utmost importance to him, and he intends to get involved with volunteer work and donation requests.

Zahid says, “I am very appreciative of the support I have received. I already have many loyal customers; I listen to their wants and needs. There are very decent people in this neighbourhood.”

Dunbar Mart

4479 Dunbar Street Vancouver BC V6S 2G4

Phone 604-566-7775