Remember Fields? A small B.C. town still has one and it's huge

Discount stores like Fields are a thing of the past, but several B.C. towns still have them, dripping with bright-red-lettered nostalgia.

Daily Hive was recently in Hope, B.C., and when we heard a Fields was still operational, we had to visit.

For the uninitiated, Fields was a prevalent retailer around Metro Vancouver in the 1990s. It was — and clearly, still is — an extreme discount store with all kinds of goods. It felt like Zellers, just smaller. If you don’t remember Zellers, Fields is a bit like Winners — just cheaper and with less name-brand stuff.

While Hope might not be at the top of your list of places to visit, it has much history. It was one of the places that put B.C. on the map in the film industry before Hollywood North was a thing. Hope’s history is also tied to some current events. The town was once a Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) post, and now, as we know, the Hudson’s Bay Company is history in more ways than one.

HBC also plays a notable role in Fields’ history. More on that later.

A huge 1982 movie, Rambo: First Blood, was filmed in Hope. There’s even a statue of Rambo on Wallace Street honouring the historic filming — except in the movie, the town was called Hope, Washington.

Unrelated, if you Google what Hope is known for, many results will suggest that it’s the chainsaw carving capital of the world.

If you grew up in Metro Vancouver between the 1950s and 1990s, you probably recognize the Fields logo and branding.

The very first Fields store was located in Vancouver. However, by the 2000s, the Fields stores in Metro Vancouver were gone.

In the 2010s, Fields was owned by HBC, which announced that it would be closing all remaining Fields locations. But almost exactly 13 years ago, on May 1, 2012, FHC Holdings announced it would purchase the remaining locations to keep them open.

“For almost 70 years, Fields has been a central part of many rural Canadian communities, and we’re proud to share in such a long and rich history,” the Fields website states.

“For the communities surrounding our stores, Fields is the place to find everyday items and much more,” it adds.

“To many highway-bound Canadians, the familiar red-lettered signs mean a place to buy pretty much anything you might have forgotten at home!”

There’s also a message on the website from CEO Jason McDougall, stating, “Fields is one of the very successful retail chains that is actually owned by Canadians! I am very proud of that fact.”

That message Fields very timely. (Sorry).

Inside the store, we have to say, there actually were great deals to be had.

While the store was clean and in good condition, it hadn’t necessarily been modernized, which isn’t a complaint. If you have nostalgia for this store, it’ll be triggered the moment you step inside.

Fields has it all. Snacks, clothing, home goods, mediocre off-brand electronics, cleaning supplies, and more. The Hope location felt much bigger than the ones that once existed in Metro Vancouver.

The section for fishing enthusiasts, which had hooks, lures, and rods, is not pictured. This section definitely didn’t exist at the Metro Vancouver locations, indicating that whoever set up the Hope store knows the clientele very well. It also sells tools and tool belts.

Over 60 Fields locations still exist in B.C., Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories, with over 30 in rural B.C.

While we wouldn’t necessarily encourage anyone to take a 1.5-hour drive to Hope, B.C., just to see Fields, the quaint town of fewer than 10,000 people has a lot more to offer.

The cafes we visited were run by families that cared about customer service. The scenic drive out was beautiful, embodying the Pacific Northwest. The vibes were immaculate, and the air felt pure and clean.

Also, Rambo. It’s like Hope’s steam clock. We also can’t forget about Hope Sheriff Will Teasle.

While B.C. has plenty of places to go if you wish to escape the city’s noise, Hope is a reminder of simpler times, and Fields is a reminder of cheaper times.

Do you have any memories of Fields?

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