New Vancouver vintage store is a trove of hidden treasures

Vancouver shoppers looking for vintage outfits and mementos from years gone by have been in heaven with the recent opening of Fun Häus.

The vintage shopping experience, which opened earlier this spring just off Commercial Drive at 1739 Venables St., is the brainchild of co-owners Andrew Stephens and Kirby Fisher.

The veteran vintage fashion, antique, and collectible pickers have transformed the storefront into a treasure hunter’s paradise, with clothing, movie posters, video games, and more to discover.

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“Fun Häus is much more than a retail store; it is an experience,” said Stephens, who is also the founder of Owen’s Oddities. “Kirby and I have dreamed of building a unique space for years, but we were holding out for the perfect location. Finding our home in East Vancouver felt meant to be.

“The building is a former bingo hall, which gives the 2,000 square foot space this incredible, inherent charm and character. “Whether you are hunting for a specific ’90s collectible or just browsing the vintage racks, the space is built to be inclusive. Step inside, enjoy a massive nostalgia trip, and just have fun.”

Shoppers can expect true vintage pieces from the 1920s up to the year 2000 at the Vancouver vintage store, with a wide variety of clothing items from the ’70s and ’80s.

There are also a bunch of ’90s band T-shirts, jackets, promotional items, and more at the location next to the recently opened VanCity Pinball & Arcade.

“What I love is style to reflect the inside out, to show the world who you are is actually cool,” explained Fisher, the founder of Dead Union.

“Being true to yourself and feeling good and comfortable in what you choose to wear is what I personally love, so I try to offer shoppers the tools to go wild, classy, tame or whatever you desire.”

Collectors can also find ’80s and ’90s pop culture collectibles, toys, and historical ephemera that Stephens sources for Owen’s Oddities at the shop.

There are vintage stuffies, classic VHS tapes, action figures, skateboards, and even a spinning shark hanging from the ceiling. The shop is very much a nerd museum.

The long-time picker shared that reliving childhood memories and learning about the past is a big part of Fun Häus’ draw.

“When you pick up a vintage item, you are holding a tangible piece of the past,” said Stephens. “For older generations, it is a direct portal back to a simpler time, whether that brings back the feeling of watching Saturday morning cartoons like Gargoyles or The Real Ghostbusters.

“But for younger generations, it is about discovery. They are drawn to the physical quality and the unique, colourful aesthetic of the ’80s and ’90s that you just do not get in today’s digital world. It is a shared appreciation for the stories these physical objects tell.”

Stephens and Fisher gave shoutouts to their friend Bill of the East Side Flea, who connected the duo to the space, and builder Matthew DeWetter, who helped them bring their ideas to life.

They also teased plans for future movie nights inside of Fun Häus so they can share their love of physical media even further.

“You can expect to have a sore face after leaving Fun Häus from all the damn smiling you will be doing whilst inside,” added Fisher.

“It’s a time capsule, and those who were there will absolutely love it here. For the younger vintage lovers, it is a place to actually see the things your parents were wearing in old photos or the relics they talk about after a couple of glasses of red at the dinner table. The vibe is, at its core, fun.”

Fun Häus

Address: 1739 Venables St., Vancouver