industries

The B.C. businesses our editors loved and supported in 2025

Supporting local isn’t just good economics—it’s personal. From beloved neighbourhood fixtures to B.C. brands with national reach, these are the local businesses our editors kept coming back to in 2025.

By The Editors /

A healthy local economy only works if we’re willing to patronize the businesses built right here in B.C., and our editors definitely did their part in 2025. From legendary general stores to nationally-recognized chocolatiers, we’re celebrating the places and businesses that made a memorable impact on our year.

Chez Nous Bakery

You might recognize this quaint, Europe-in-the-middle-of-Vancouver café from when it blew up on TikTok, but I discovered my neighbourhood bakery way before it went mainstream. Perched on a sidewalk on Homer, it’s easy to miss, but unforgettable once you’ve been acquainted with its flaky-buttery croissants and out-of-the-world croque monsieur (vegetarian, too)! It’s my go-to when I’m in the mood for an elevated cup of matcha, a rendevous with a girlfriend or simply a hideaway from the daily grind. Come for the decadent pain au chocolat, brioche feuilletée, and babkas, and stay for the open kitchen display where you can see flour-dusted bakers whipping up the day’s offerings in their pristine aprons.—Mihika Agarwal, senior editor, BCBusiness

1262 Homer Street

Purdy’s

I’m a big fan of “little treat” culture, and one of my creature comforts is a piece of chocolate. Much like Starbucks, Purdy’s has the market cornered on seasonal items that beg be tried (pear caramels? candy cane truffles? Himilayan pink salt versus Hawaiian black salt?!), and this B.C.-based brand really does have my heart (or should I say tongue). If I’m on the move (read: browsing the mall for a birthday gift or similar), I’ll find a Purdy’s counter to see what seasonal singles they’ve got on offer and use it to fuel my search. And much of the time, the gift I’m searching for is inside the shop, from teacher-appreciation gift boxes, Hannukah sets or lucky red pouches filled with chocolate coins during Lunar New Year to grabbing something for your vegan or sugar-conscious friend.—Kristi Alexandra, managing editor

Several locations across B.C.

Welk’s General Store

During COVID I went through a wee (okay, maybe a very big) plant THING, where I wanted to fill my house with as much greenery as humanly possible. So walks to Welk’s on Main Street in Mount Pleasant became routine, picking up a succulent here and there, with a cute pot to match. Welk’s is one of those incredible stores where you can find just about anything, and keeps you coming back time and again, whether it’s for housewares, non-toxic and locally-made cleaning supplies or just browsing. Great snacks from local purveyors? Check!  Funky socks with cute patterns?  Check!  Puzzles and games and 30 types of hot sauces?  Check, check, check. It’s also a great place to get a gift card for someone who is hard to buy for, for a birthday or Christmas.—Darcy Matheson, editor-in-chief at BCBusiness

3511 Main Street

 

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Jaybird

I realize that picking a yoga and pilates studio for my most-visited business this year makes it sound like I’m hot and fit (I promise I’m neither in the conventional sense), but it does say something that no matter how busy I get, I manage to make it to my once-a-week Jaybird class. Their Kingsway location was a game-changer for me, because I developed a love-hate relationship with reformer pilates, and their hot yoga classes kept me from cancelling my membership. It’s just exactly the way I like to work out—in the dark with nobody looking, loud music blasting and me being the sweatiest I’ve ever been. If you see me there trying not to fall off the reformer/modern-day torture device though, no you didn’t.—Rebekah Ho, digital marketing manager

776 Kingsway, Vancouver

Coco et Olive

My gifting strategy lately has been to take a cue from Oprah and give people my favourite things. Which means that when I walk into Coco et Olive under the pretext of simply grabbing a coffee, and then find myself bewitched by the blown-glass bowls and pleasingly skinny taper candles, I am able to fight the urge to fill my own home with these beautiful things by buying something for someone else. If you love richly textured mugs from local artisans, printed silk scarves, glass pitchers shaped like fish or very fancy olive oil in bottles too beautiful to bear ever throwing away, please let me know—because I really want an excuse to go shopping again.—Stacey McLachlan, contributing editor and Vancouver magazine editor-in-chief

3707 Main Street, Vancouver

 

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The Editors

The Editors

The BCBusiness editorial team lives for big ideas, bold entrepreneurs and the business stories that make B.C. tick.