Vancouver police crackdown brings noticeable change to London Drugs’ Downtown Eastside store

At the corner of Hastings and Abbott, London Drugs has long dealt with violence, theft, and mounting financial losses.

But there are now signs of hope at one of the retailer’s most challenging locations.

Tony Hunt, the company’s general manager of loss prevention, says conditions at the store — located in the Woodward’s Building — have “significantly” improved since the launch of a new Vancouver Police Department (VPD) task force three months ago.

“We’ve seen a reduction in our incidence of thefts and a reduction in incidence of violence,” Hunt told 1130 NewsRadio.

“But most importantly, it’s been the impact on the staff and customers, their perception of safety we’ve seen since the project, and the new attention that’s been paid to the Downtown Eastside.”

Launched in February, the VPD’s $5 million “Task Force Barrage” is focused on reducing violent crime and street disorder in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), as well as surrounding neighbourhoods like Gastown, Chinatown, and Strathcona.

The initiative has brought a more visible police presence — something Hunt says is having a direct impact on repeat offenders and fencing operations that once thrived at the DTES location.

“It’s now becoming more like an average store, as opposed to a store which was being hit particularly hard.”

Earlier this year, London Drugs President Clint Mahlman said the DTES location has lost more than $10 millionsince opening in 2009. At the time, Mahlman called it “one of the largest money-losing locations we have in our chain.”

Despite signs of progress, Hunt says employee safety remains a top concern as the company continues to invest heavily in security and is still considering the future of the Woodward’s store, with an option to terminate its lease at the end of the year.

“I’m heartened at this point, because while this is a short-term project thus far, it’s starting to have a difference, and people feel more comfortable in that space, they feel comfortable shopping, and it’s making noticeable improvements.”

As for whether the store will remain open past 2025:

“We’re in discussions and taking in all the information. A decision will be made later in the year on that particular location.”