Vancouver's Little India loses Sabzi Mandi supermarket on Main Street

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      There's another blow to the Vancouver neighbourhood known as Little India.

      The Sabzi Mandi supermarket at 6684 Main Street has shuttered its doors.

      For many years, the store near the Sunset Community Centre supplied area residents with food and treats that came from India.

      In recent times, many Vancouverites of Indian descent have preferred shopping at the Fruiticana grocery store on Fraser Street.

      Earlier this year, the Straight reported on the number of vacant storefronts in the 6600 block of Main Street. Not long afterward, there was a real-estate listing for the Sabzi Mandi location, which was listed at $198,000.

      Ship mango chutney was just one of hundreds of Indian products on the shelves.
      Charlie Smith

      More recently, the owner of the Roots Cafe, Simran Virk, told the Straight that she has seen a shift in the customer base in the neighbourhood around the Punjabi Market.

      “I think part of the big problem of the preservation of the historical nature of the Punjabi Market has been missed because there was a lack of effort to do anything together,” Virk said.

      In October, the Straight reported that Orr Development plans to redevelop its property in the 6500 block of Main Street.

      This means that another hallmark of the area, All India Sweets & Restaurant, will eventually have to find a new home.

      Orr plans to build a six-storey mixed-use project that will include 75 market rental dwellings.

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