The first timie I wondered what was up with “The Lido” was in the early eighties.
I walked past its East Broadway location several times a week. It looked swank for a little shop, - polished black tiles with cryptic signage: “The Lido.” Very Art Deco looking.
…but never open. The displays in the window seemed to change from time to time. Canned goods, maybe imported from Italy. Artichokes, tomatoes. When the labels became sun-faded… they’d be replaced.
Nobody knew what the deal was. When I was twelve, I figured it was a mafia front. Of course!
As I got older, I realized that was a bit silly - but still… gotta be a front for something, right?
After I moved out of the neighbourhood, I would still crane my head to see if it was still there, as I passed through. Year after year, the Lido was a constant. Always empty, locked up tight.
This enigmatic shop remained a fixture as the East Van neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant became something of a slum, notorious for daytime prostitutes, corner crack dealers, and needles lying around.
I remember that place! About ten years ago I lived about two blocks from Main and 12th. Exactly where was/is it Larry? I can remember the storefront so clearly, but can’t place where it was. What was it near? This is cool, I always noticed that shop, since it was so distinctive.
Well, hi, ex-neighbour! I lived on the corner of St. George & 12th, right across from an elementary school. What a crappy basement suite that was - the joys of being a poor student! So what is the neighbourhood like these days? I moved away from Vancouver years ago, and although I go back fairly often, I haven’t really been to Mount Pleasant in years. I liked it - it was fairly dodgy, but interesting.
