Beloved local businesses in White Rock, BC.
If you’ve never had your butcher offer you a free bag of bones for your dog, or had your barista warmly welcome you by your first name, you’re missing out on that neighbourhood that everyone should be searching for. We’re here to help you find it.
The city by the sea.
whiterock
White Rock is many things, but South Surrey, it is not. Just ask anyone who lives here. Surrounded by Surrey to the north, east, and west, and Semiahmoo First Nation and the Pacific Ocean to the south, White Rock is just minutes away from the US border and just a hop, skip and a jump away from the water in most spots. Sure, it might be named after a big white rock that sits on its shoreline, but don’t let that lack of imagination fool you. This is a city full of creative local businesses, passionate entrepreneurs, and beautiful murals at just about every turn.
Here are a few of our favourite businesses in White Rock, but be sure to take a stroll down Johnston Road and visit any of the hundreds of diverse shops in the area for yourself. You’re bound to find a local favourite that makes you feel right at home.
Kahlúa for dinner.
kahlua
It’s hard to miss a big yellow house. Especially a yellow house with a Statue of Liberty wearing a Canucks jersey perched above the entrance. If you haven’t figured out the place we’re talking about yet, that means you haven’t been - so pull out your phone and jot Washington Avenue Grill down under your local restaurants to try list.
A meal here feels like you’re eating at an old friend’s home. If your old friend is Wolfgang Puck. WAG serves Pacific Northwest cuisine, from their pecan-crusted steelhead to their curry and Kahlúa prawns. Our recommendation is always the seafood hot pot, with prawns, steelhead, snapper, fresh mussels and rice noodles in a red curry cream sauce. Bring your bib.
Oh. And it might be haunted. Just thought we should mention that for any aspiring Ghost Busters in the audience.
Game over.
RNG
If you’ve been on a quest to find a friendly local gaming store, White Rock has you covered. And the only challenge you’ll face along the way is finding parking.
Meet Grey Haven Hobbies, a store that’s been serving the community for nearly 30 years. Grey Haven is run by Adam, one of the most accommodating and friendly local business owners in the city. The shop is also partially run by the most congenial pup in White Rock, Cloves. Be sure to give him a scratch or two when you visit.
You can learn to play Magic: The Gathering on Friday nights with a great group of people (newcomers are welcomed with open arms), stock up on hockey, Pokemon and baseball cards, or find a new cooperative board game to play this weekend. The selection is excellent, but the service is why Grey Haven is entering its third decade in business.
Liquid gold.
coffeeeeee
When you need a kick-start to your day, roll yourself out of bed and head straight to Laura’s. Open Tuesday to Saturday, Laura’s Coffee Corner is the best place for coffee and a snack in White Rock. Daily specials are featured every morning in chalk, where you can expect to find everything from delicious breakfast sandwiches to nutritious power bowls.
If it’s a sweet tooth you’re trying to satisfy, you’re in luck. This place nails both quality and quantity with dozens of sweet and savoury baked goods to choose from daily. Scones, pastries, danishes, the world’s your sugar-dusted-oyster at Laura’s.
Who let the dogs out?
beerme
The best beer in White Rock comes out of 3 Dogs Brewing, a spot that’s quickly become a local favourite in the city. Since 2017 they’ve been offering over 12 rotating beers and ciders ranging from new in-house brews to guest taps and seasonals. We like all the staples but come back frequently for the rotating taps. They just released a strawberry-rhubarb sour that’ll make your cheeks pucker and your knees buckle.
Come grab a flight and listen to some live music, or sign up for one of their brain-busting movie, TV or music trivia nights. Fun times are in your future at 3 Dogs Brewing.
Homeward bound.
onon
If your home’s in need of a little warmth, head to The Handpicked Home on Johnston. From reclaimed furniture to gourmet foods and gifts for your littlest family members, you’re going to want to visit this shop every month to discover what’s new. It might just be the best place to purchase a housewarming gift in the Lower Mainland.
Having opened in the summer of 2015, there’s a great mix of locally designed home décor on display here. Support a fantastic local business and give them a visit.
The living legend.
pickled
Uli’s has been a staple in White Rock for over 30 years, which might as well be 300 years in the restaurant world. They’ve maintained their status as one of the best restaurants in White Rock by never cutting corners and staying true to what they do best: eclectic, west coast inspired cuisine.
Uli’s is a family-run restaurant founded by Ulrich (Uli) Blume, with Uli’s son Tyson now at the helm. Local farms and vendors are used as much as possible. Try the bison carpaccio, Dungeness crab cakes, or fish and chips to taste the flavours of BC. If it’s your first time at Uli’s, make no mistakes about your order. The paella is a show-stopper.
A beautiful day in the neighbourhood.
It’s hard to put a finger on what makes a neighbourhood a great neighbourhood. There’s a spirit to these places, a meshing of the lives and loves and laughter and losses of all of those who took root there at one time or another. It’s places to eat that would never succeed anywhere else. It’s local grocers whose produce is only outweighed by their personalities. It’s the lives of the people who truly bring the bricks and mortar to life. And that’s worth buying into.
