For a dollar less than two million, one can purchase a piece of Vancouver history.

The property for sale is home to an iconic neigbourhood grocery believed to have been in business for more than a century.

Not only is Vernon Drive Grocery one of the oldest surviving stores in the city.

An online site has described the grocery as the most photographed neighbourhood corner store in Vancouver.

“If you happen to stop by the store around sunset you could be transported back in time to Fred Herzog's Vancouver when corner stores and their colourful signage where everywhere,” according to a 2017 post by Storefront Vancouver.

“The place is pretty old as buildings on the property date from 1901,” the site noted. “No doubt back in the day the store did well with Admiral Seymour Elementary School being right across the street."

"A City Directory search found the store had been home to numerous businesses over the years. In 1915 it was John Craig Confectionary, in 1936 it was BH Corkill Grocer, and in 1952 it was Tom and Gwen Confectionary and Grocer.”

In 2019, a listing by realtor Sheldon Coxford for 700 Vernon Drive went up.

The 53.5 feet by 66 feet lot on the northeast corner of Vernon Drive and East Georgia Street has a character home, and the Vernon Drive Grocery.

The property was priced $2,588,800.

According to Coxford’s listing, buyers have the “opportunity to renovate these existing properties”, and restore the grocery to its “beloved historic charm”.

Or, “redevelop this corner site and bring your own charm and design ideas with endless possibilities”.

The property did not sell, and the listing was terminated.

A new listing has come up for 700 Vernon Drive, this time by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty.

The asking price is $1,999,999.

The current list price is below the assessed value of the property.

According to B.C. Assessment’s 2020 valuation, 700 Vernon Drive is worth $2,214,900 as of July 1, 2019.

The land is assessed at $2,211,000.

The buildings, meaning the home and the grocery, are worth $3,900.

The home contains three suites, and these are currently tenanted.

The Sutton Group-West Coast Realty listing notes that there are “many opportunities” with this “unique property”.

It mentions the Federal Store, a popular Mount Pleasant grocery and cafe.

The listing also cites Le Marché St. George, another well known community establishment.

The 700 Vernon Street property is not included in the City of Vancouver’s registry of heritage places.