Coming from my previous job in Vancouver at the city's premier business weekly newspaper, I became pretty familiar with the business world in Vancouver. The companies that started there, the companies that moved to there or away from there.
Now here in Edmonton, I'm a little less in the loop on the business community. But I always find it interesting to find out how big companies got their start, so I have come to find out that several well known retail companies were started right here in E-Town!
The Brick - The first store was opened in Edmonton in 1971 - then called Bill Comrie's Furniture Warehouse. In 1975 the store moved to a large brick building in downtown Edmonton, and in 1978 was renamed "The Brick Warehouse"...later "The Brick". By 1980, the business was generating $75 million/year from that one location. Today, The Brick operates 200 locations across Canada.
Boston Pizza - Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House opened in Edmonton in 1964. By 1970 there were 17 locations, 15 of which were franchises. Once of the first franchisees was Jim Trevliving, who we now know and love from one of our favourite CBC programs, Dragon's Den. Jim and his business partner George Melville bought the chain of restaurants in 1983, and now Boston Pizza has over 325 locations across Canada, 54 in the United States (there known as Boston's The Gourmet Pizza), and 2 locations in Mexico.
Running Room - The first Running Room was a small one room store, housed in the renovated living room of an old house in Edmonton in 1984. The company now has over 90 retail locations throughout Canada and the US.
Earl's - Earl's was founded in 1982, with the first location right here in Edmonton. Still a family run business, Earl's has over 50 locations in Canada and the US.
Booster Juice - Okay, technically, Booster Juice didn't start in Edmonton - it started in a suburb of Edmonton, Sherwood Park. And get this, they opened a smoothie bar in November, 1999. November? Really? I would think November in Canada's North would be the perfect time to open hot chocolate shop, not a smoothie bar. But that's why I don't own a successful business. Booster Juice now has over 170 stores worldwide (including five in Saudi Arabia!).
Edmonton has also been the testing ground for US companies looking to enter the Canadian market. We often get the first location in Canada or the first location in Western Canada. We have the first Victoria's Secret location in Western Canada, where else but at West Edmonton Mall. We also had the first Canadian location of Bath & Body Works (also at The Mall). We also have the first Canadian location of the American fondue restaurant, The Melting Pot. (I haven't been here yet, but that 2 for 1 chocolate fondue coupon is sure burning a hole in my pocket, so hopefully soon!)
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