Insights
Notes from the field.
Practical reading on retail strategy, technology, and teams — written by people who build and run stores for a living.
Yalda Night welcomes brighter days ahead with watermelon, warmth and celebrations
As winter approaches, the Iranian community prepares to welcome Yalda Night, or Shab-e Yalda – the longest night of the year – celebrated as a moment of rene…
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This specialty foods franchise got its start in North Vancouver
Fifteen years have passed since Ayoub’s Dried Fruits and Nuts opened its first branch on Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver. What was once a small business o…
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North Vancouver’s Mashti Café brings back banned Iranian milkshake
In the heart of Lonsdale Avenue, Mashti Café, a new establishment on the street, offers a taste of nostalgia for the Iranian diaspora with its flagship produ…
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New takeout restaurant brings authentic Iranian cuisine to North Vancouver
Her name is Sabrieh Safari, and her children call her Mama Sabi. She arrived in Canada about five years ago to join her family. Now, she has decided to roll …
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North Shore businesses prepare for the bustle of Nowruz
Spring is gradually and steadily arriving, and as cherry blossoms emerge, they signify the approach of the Persian New Year: Nowruz. In the heart of Central …
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Breaking barriers in the ring: The journey of the first Iranian-Canadian kickboxing champion
She is just 36, but Farinaz Lari has already overcome a lifetime of obstacles and challenges to achieve success as a kickboxing champion and entrepreneur. La…
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This hidden North Van bookstore holds Persian cultural treasures
At 1558 Lonsdale Ave., a discreet staircase guides pedestrians to a hidden bookstore known as Nima, the oldest Persian bookstore in the Vancouver area. The b…
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Culture and protest meet in North Vancouver Persian dance academy
For almost two decades Pooneh Alizadeh has been mixing cultures through dance from her North Vancouver studio. Born and raised in Iran, Alizadeh studied art …
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Bahar Bakery & Cafe: Made with love in memory of a PS752 victim
We sat behind the counter at Bahar Bakery & Café, with a view of the sidewalk at the corner of Robson and Seymour Streets in Vancouver, discussing our decisi…
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