Westbeach, a brand founded by Chip Wilson in the ’70s that was popular between the ’80s and early 2000s, is making a Vancouver comeback.
The Kitsilano store, located at 2138 W. 4th Ave., opened this past weekend with a big launch party.
We spoke to some of the people connected to Westbeach about how this came about and what the future holds for the space and the brand. That included Braden Parker, who is leading the brand’s resurgence.
“It has been really fun seeing how many people still light up when they hear about us coming back. We’ve had a ton of ‘I remember that brand!’ moments over the past week,” Parker told Daily Hive.
Daily Hive has also had a lot of those “I remember” moments in speaking with people close to us about the reopening.
As Parker explained, it’s a bit of a soft launch at the moment.
“It’s a very intentional ‘Phase 1’ moment, and the space is more of a community clubhouse than a full retail launch. We have a skate ramp, a coffee area and some vintage Westbeach pieces on display,” Parker said.
There’s also a small “purposeful” collection of premium hoodies, sweats and crews.
“This is just the starting point; long-term product development is underway, outerwear is in the works, and we’re rebuilding the brand piece by piece.”
As Parker told us, the brand hasn’t operated in Canada for around 15 years.
“It changed hands a few times after the early 2000s, and the original spirit more or less disappeared. This is the first time since then that the brand is coming back in a meaningful, community-facing way.”
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Kitsilano announced the closure of Westbeach in Vancouver back in 2012.
The website, which has yet to fully launch, says that the store is open seven days a week from 10-6. You can sign up on the website to be informed of updates.
“The website will be live soon. We’re taking the same approach as the store, rebuilding things properly instead of rushing them. Right now, we’ve been enjoying having people come in, see the space, feel the product, and be part of the restart in person,” Parker said.
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As mentioned, Westbeach was founded by Wilson, who went on to create the iconic Lululemon brand. We wondered what Wilson’s involvement was in the relaunch. Parker referred to him as an incredible mentor and supporter, but said that a small team was handling the day-to-day rebuild.
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“Chip founded Westbeach back in 1979, long before Lululemon. He sold the brand back in 1997. He reacquired the rights a few years ago, and when we started talking, we both felt there was a need for a brand with soul in the surf, skate, and snow space, something high-quality, authentic, and rooted in the culture the way Westbeach always was,” Parker reflected.
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“I had just sold my last footwear startup and, having grown up snowboarding in the Rockies and Whistler, it felt like a very natural fit.”
Parker said that the slow approach is intentional. Instead of focusing on product, the folks behind the resurgence are focusing on culture and the community vibe, creating a welcoming space for the public.
“The new space is less about pushing product and more about creating a place to hang out, skate, drink coffee, and reconnect with the culture that made the brand special. Hoodies are our first step; they were foundational to Westbeach’s history, and we’re developing the broader collection now. It’s very much ‘one piece at a time.'”
Wilson was also connected to a new ‘Kits Corner’ sign that was erected recently.
Do you remember Westbeach, and have you checked out the new Vancouver store yet?