View source for Robson Street

{{Short description|Major thoroughfare in Vancouver, Canada}}
{{Infobox street
| name                    = Robson Street
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| native_name             = 
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| alternate_name          = Robsonstrasse
| image                   = Robson Street night view 2012.jpg
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| caption                 = Robson Street at night (2012)
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| other_name              = 
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| namesake                = [[John Robson (politician)|John Robson]]
| type                    = Street
| owner                   =
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| length                  =
| length_m                =
| length_ft               = 
| length_km               = 2.5
| length_mi               = 
| length_ref              = <ref name="length">{{google maps |title=Georgia Street |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@49.287372,-123.135875,13z |access-date=September 1, 2021}}</ref>
| length_notes            =
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| addresses               = 
| location                = [[Downtown Vancouver|Downtown]]
| metro                   = [[Vancouver City Centre Station]]
| coordinates             = 
| direction_a             = NW
| terminus_a              = Chilco Street
| direction_b             = SE
| terminus_b              = Beatty Street
| junction                = [[Burrard Street]]<br/>Howe Street<br/>[[Granville Street]]<br/>Seymour Street
| main_contractor         =
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| designer                =
| known_for               = Shopping district, [[Robson Square]]
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}}
[[File:Robson Street Vancouver 201807.jpg|250px|thumb|Robson Street view from [[Hornby Street]]]]
'''Robson Street''' is a major southeast-northwest thoroughfare in [[Downtown Vancouver|downtown]] and [[West End, Vancouver|West End]] of [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada. Its core commercial blocks from [[Burrard Street]] to Jervis were also known as '''Robsonstrasse.'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.robsonstreet.ca/our-story/|title = Our Story}}</ref> Its name honours [[John Robson (politician)|John Robson]], a major figure in British Columbia's entry into the [[Canadian Confederation]], and Premier of the province from 1889 to 1892. Robson Street starts at [[BC Place Stadium]] near the north shore of [[False Creek]], then runs northwest past [[Vancouver Public Library|Vancouver Library Square]], [[Robson Square]] and the [[Vancouver Art Gallery]], coming to an end at [[Lost Lagoon]] in [[Stanley Park]].

As of 2006,{{Update after|2012|01|04}} the city of Vancouver overall had the fifth most expensive retail rental rates in the world, averaging US$135 per square foot per year, citywide. Robson Street tops Vancouver with its most expensive locations renting for up to US$200 per square foot per year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=447af12f-73fc-4618-af2a-c547bb46f71e&k=83599 | title=Vancouver's retail rates among world's top five | publisher=Vancouver Sun | date=2006-02-06 | access-date=2008-07-10}}</ref> In 2006, both Robson Street and the [[Mink Mile]] on [[Bloor Street]] in [[Toronto]] were the 22nd most expensive streets in the world, with rents of $208 per square feet. In 2007, the Mink Mile and Robson slipped to 25th in the world with an average of $198 per square feet. The price of each continues to grow with Vancouver being Burberry's first Canadian location and Toronto's [[Yorkville, Toronto|Yorkville]] neighbourhood (which is bounded on the south side by Bloor) now commanding rents of $300 per square foot.

==History==

In 1895, streetcar tracks were laid down the street, supporting a concentration of shops and restaurants. From the early to middle-late 20th century, and especially after significant immigration from postwar [[Germany]], the northwest end of Robson Street was known as a centre of [[Culture of Germany|German culture]] and commerce in Vancouver, earning the nickname ''Robsonstrasse'', even among non-Germans (this name lives on in the Robsonstrasse Hotel on the street). At one time, the city had placed streetsigns reading "Robsonstrasse" though these were placed after the German presence in the area had largely vanished.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

In 1981, a development team presented the city government with a proposal to build a glass [[canopy (building)|canopy]] over sections of Robson Street. It was designed by architect [[Bing Thom]] to promote year-round use of the street and add more retail space.<ref>{{cite news |last=McAlpine |first=Mary |date=November 21, 1981 |title=Robson eyes 'glass top' |page=A3 |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-robson-eyes-glass-top/129571515/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref> The proposal was withdrawn in January 1982 due to an unwillingness from the city to change zoning codes to accommodate the project.<ref>{{cite news |last=Krangle |first=Karenn |date=January 26, 1982 |title=Developer scraps plans to enclose Robson St. block |page=A3 |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-developer-scraps-plans/129572602/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref>

Robson Street was featured on an old edition of the [[Canadian Monopoly]] board as one of the two most expensive properties.

==Upscale shopping==
Robson Street's role as a consumer district continues to the present day although the original flavour of the street, which was all small neighbourhood-market stores, has been supplanted by massive redevelopment by brand-name chain stores and high-end restaurants. Robson Street is particularly famous for the fashion shops and dining which extends from [[Granville Street]] in the southeast to Denman Street in the northwest, with the main concentration centred between [[Burrard Street|Burrard]] and Bute Streets, which is the area also known historically as Robsonstrasse.

Although not technically on Robson Street but still considered part of the district, the 'Vancouver Luxury Zone' contain the most expensive upscale stores in the city. It is anchored on [[Alberni Street]] and [[Georgia Street]]s as they intersect [[Burrard Street]] .

==Robson and Thurlow==
Robson street's intersection with [[Thurlow Street]] was known for having two [[Starbucks]] coffee shops on opposite corners, one of which was non-smoking prior to the enactment of the indoor smoking ban, and the other not. The location on the west corner is known as a major meeting place for the [[Motorcycle club|biker culture]], with motorcycles parked in a special bikes-only strip of parking painted on the pavement. It was also this corner of Robson and Thurlow that acted as the [[epicentre]] of the [[1994 Stanley Cup riot|Stanley Cup Riot]] of 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/books/article.jsp?content=20051222_140516_2124|title=4 Canadian sports riots - Macleans.ca - Culture - Books<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>

==Neighbourhoods==
[[Image:Vancouver Manhattan Apts 2010.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Manhattan Apartments (1908)]]

There are numerous highrises along or near Robson, many of them condo towers and hotels. The [[Empire Landmark Hotel]], originally the Sheraton Landmark, was the tallest highrise on the strip at 42 storeys. It included the Cloud Nine revolving restaurant.

There are numerous residential condo and apartment towers under construction along the southeastern end of Robson near [[Yaletown]] past the bustling [[Granville Mall, Vancouver|Granville Mall]], whereas the northwestern end becomes part of Vancouver's [[West End, Vancouver|West End]] neighbourhood containing older residential highrises near the quieter Stanley Park and Lost Lagoon; the last few blocks of Robson between Denman and Lost Lagoon are part of the [[Stanley Park Neighbourhood]].

Robson Street is also popular as a [[cruising (driving around)|cruising]] street, with many exotic, rare cars and motorcycles present every weekend throughout the summer.

==Major intersections==
{{BCinttop|length_ref=<ref name="length"/>|indep_city=Vancouver}}
{{Jctint
|km=0.0
|road=Lagoon Drive<hr/>Chilco Street
|notes=Continues west as Lagoon Drive into [[Stanley Park]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.3
|road=Denman Street
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.4
|road=Thurlow Street
|notes=One-way, southwest bound
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.6
|road=[[Burrard Street]]
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.7
|road=Hornby Street
|notes=One-way, northeast bound
}}
{{Jctplace
|type=closed
|km=1.7
|km2=1.8
|place=[[Robson Square]] (no vehicle access)
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.8
|road={{Jctname|province=BC|Hwy|99|dir1=south|name1=Howe Street}}
|notes=One-way, southwest bound
}}
{{BCint
|type=hov
|km=1.9
|road=[[Granville Street]]
|notes=[[Granville Mall, Vancouver|Granville Mall]] (transit only)
}}
{{BCint
|km=2.0
|road={{Jctname|province=BC|Hwy|99|dir1=north|name1=Seymour Street|nolink1=yes}}
|notes=One-way, northeast-bound
}}
{{BCint
|km=2.4
|road=[[Cambie Street]]
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=2.5
|road=Beatty Street
|notes=Across from [[BC Place]]
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=closed,hov}}

==See also==
*[[West End, Vancouver]] (Robson Street passes through the northeast edge of the West End)
*[[Davie Village]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EfLBbYFzJ8 1964 film footage of Robson Street]
*[http://www.robsonstreet.ca/ Robson Street Business Association]
{{Streets in Vancouver}}
{{VancouverNeighbourhoods}}

[[Category:Streets in Vancouver]]
[[Category:Shopping districts and streets in Canada]]
[[Category:Busking venues]]
[[Category:Ethnic enclaves in British Columbia]]
[[Category:German communities]]