Tributes pour in for beloved Richmond grocer destroyed by fire
Smoke could be seen billowing in the air on Friday evening as a fire erupted at a much-loved grocery store in Steveston.
The fire broke out at Super Grocer and Pharmacy, along No. 1 Road and Moncton Street, yesterday afternoon around 5 pm.
Jim Wishlove, Fire Chief at Richmond Fire-Rescue, shared that nine fire trucks were present at the height of the blaze and that it took around “six hours before it was completely extinguished.”
No-one was injured during the fire.
While the cause of the fire is currently unknown, Wishlove said that they are “beginning [their] plan for the cause and origin investigation, and that’s going to be starting at some point later today.”
Unfortunately, the building was destroyed in the fire, and Wishlove told Daily Hive that they “have security on scene to ensure that the public is safe and nobody goes near the building because there [are] some dangerous broken parts to it.”
People witnessing the blaze flooded social media with photographs and videos of the fire, and many users on X mourned the grocers. They shared how it was an iconic spot within the Richmond neighbourhood.
“It’s heartbreaking to see one of [the] iconic and long-standing buildings is burning and can’t be saved!” one user shared.
Our community’s beloved Super grocer & pharmacy is on fire tonight! It’s heart breaking to see one of iconic and long standing buildings is burning and can’t be saved! Feel so sad for all employees and business owner! Big thanks for Richmond firefighters pic.twitter.com/LZryCv0yez
— melissa (@melissaneshat) January 27, 2024
Other members from the Richmond community also shared their sadness at the destruction of the store, calling the grocers “an institution.”
I’m so sad about the fire at Super Grocer in Steveston. It’s an institution, independent, family-run, had a caring pharmacy (they were instrumental in my Dad’s chemo treatments) and had a diversity of Asian products, a rarity in Steveston. And they had best floral shop, too.
— Robyn Hanson (@BCRobyn) January 27, 2024
As a born and raised in Steveston’er…it’s truly devastating to see Super Grocer/Valu go out this way.
Rods, Steveston Hardware, Super Grocer/Valu….places of familiarity that we grew up with that are no longer here. Part of this town’s history just went up in smoke. Sad.
— Cordelia (@slyhockeyguy) January 27, 2024
Another user nodded to other places in Richmond that no longer exist and summed up the loss of the iconic grocery store.
“Part of this town’s history just went up in smoke,” they wrote. “Sad.”
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