Welcome to the Hemingway Building

An iconic landmark in Historic Downtown Abbotsford since 1930.


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Historical Overview

Historical Overview

The Hemingway Building, located at 33765 Essendene Avenue, has been a cornerstone of Abbotsford’s downtown for over 90 years. Constructed in 1930, the building originally housed a liquor store and a pharmacy on the main floor, with the basement used for storage and heating. The bricks used in its construction were sourced from the renowned Clayburn Brick Factory, adding historical significance to its architecture.

Milestones

1907

H. Alanson Hardware operates on the site.

1918

Alanson's Hardware taken over by Hugo P. Knoll, renamed Knoll Hardware.

1926

Knoll enlarges the building into the adjacent vacant lot (21' wide by 68' deep).

November 14, 1928

Fire wiped out an entire block of the business section of Abbotsford destroying the Royal Bank, Lee's Grocery, Knoll Hardware and Barber's Shoe Store, all on Essendene Avenue between Railway and Montrose.

1930

Crist building was constructed using materials which included concrete, locally produced Clayburn Company bricks, timbers—with some repurposed from the train station up the road. The building was initially developed as two spaces, plus a basement. The West side of the building contained the BC Liquor Store while the East side of the building was occupied by Weir’s Pharmacy. The building first opened its doors on September 30, 1930.

June 3, 1951

Weir’s Rexall Pharmacy damaged by fire.

1960

Crist Building converted to one interior space, occupied by Pay-Less Clothing.

1970

Crist Building occupied by Ronal Television.

1976

Suran Enterprises moved after Ronal Television closes.

June, 1979

A fire in the building closes the doors for Suran Enterprises.

1982

After the building was ready to be re-occupied, The Salvation Army relocated from their Montrose location into the Crist building.

1995

Hemingway's Books and Records opens, becoming an iconic part of Historic Downtown Abbotsford.

November 21, 2022

After a deal to purchase the Hemingway Books and Records business collapses, the owner, Dave Kyle, announces that the store will be closing its doors.

January 14, 2023

Dave Kyle, the owner of the business retires and closes the doors of the business indefinitely. Plans begin to redevelop the Crist building back into the two original retail spaces (East and West), preserving as many of the original architectural features as possible.

July, 2023

Redevelopment of the main level is complete. Modernized suites in the original Weir’s Rexall Pharmacy location (East side) and the original BC Liquor Store (West side) are ready for new occupants.

August, 2023

Abbotsford Downtown Business Association launches Open Space in the West side of the building, becoming the first organization to reoccupy the original 1930’s BC Liquor Store location.

October, 2023

Redevelopment of the lower level is complete. This project included preserving historic architectural features such as exposed timbers (original, however also reclaimed from the local train station just up the road), refinishing the original concrete floors, and leaving the original 1930's chimney exposed as a feature (which constructed with some of the final bricks produced at the local Clayburn Brick plant).

November, 2023

Clearbridge Business Solutions moves into the lower level (the original basement) on an interim basis awaiting completion of their new offices at 33761 Essendene Avenue (the original RBC Royal Bank location).

May 24, 2024

The Social Salon moves in into the East side of the building, becoming the first business to reoccupy the original 1930’s Weir’s Rexall location.

September 1, 2024

Hemingway Professional Offices (HPO) opens in Historic Downtown Abbotsford, providing local entrepreneurs and business owners with distinctive office spaces designed to inspire and support their ventures. The HPO name pays tribute to 33 years of Hemingway Books and Records—a mainstay business in Historic Downtown Abbotsford.

November, 2024

The Crist building officially renamed "The Hemingway Building" out of recognition to 33 years of operations in Historic Downtown Abbotsford. For those who call Abbotsford home, Hemingway Books and Records, is a household name and is familiar to most.

December, 2024

The Hemingway Building reaches full occupancy for the first time since Hemingway Books and Records closed its doors on January 14, 2023.

Architectural Highlights