Dunbar was once a bustling neighborhood brimming with spirit. 

Now most shops are empty, barring two drug stores and three cafes.

We interviewed residents to gain insight into what locals think of the neighbourhood’s ambiguous identity.

“This community needs to wake up. The block feels lifeless. Life is halting in this neighbourhood,” said a long-time local, expressing concerns with with a lack of community morale in Dunbar.

Others voiced dissatisfaction with the lack of variety among Dunbar businesses. 

“You need to drive twenty minutes to find a new resturant” an elderly man complained.

“I wish it was more like Kerrisdale,” one woman said, to the appreciative nods of her friends. “There used to be an Asian bakery down the street.” Such businesses don’t exist anymore despite Dunbar’s large Asian demographic. Among the ideas suggested are: a bubble tea shop, a gift shop, and a bakery. “But I guess that’s what Amazon and Uber Eats are for,” they said. 

What happened to Dunbar? And what can we do to revive our neighborhood?