(Image from Triple O’s)
There aren’t many truly iconic restaurant chains from BC. Can you name 5? There’s Cactus Club, The Keg,… That’s about it. We’re reliant on local spots, restaurants from outside of the province, and those from abroad for our dining pleasure, for better or worse. But there is one chain I haven’t mentioned, one as as synonymous with British Columbian as Nanaimo Bars and weed. It goes by many names (well, actually only 2), has over 100 locations, and was founded right here in Vancouver almost a century ago. Of course I’m talking about the legendary White Spot, and it’s fast-food spin-off, Triple O’s.
The story of White Spot starts in 1920’s Vancouver. The horse drawn carriage is being slowly replaced the automobile, Hotel Vancouver is only beginning construction, and the only way to cross the first narrows is by ferry. Here we find a Minnesota-born businessman by the name of Nat Bailey, who uses his trusty 1918 Model-T as a mobile drive-in (or perhaps drive-around is more accurate), often setting up shop at Lookout Point. The menu is simple: hot dogs and ice cream, a far cry from what we know today. In 1928, Nat decides to turn his nomadic snack cart into a real restaurant, choosing a spot on Granville Street to host it. This would become the very first location of a soon-to-be local hotspot, a place we know as the one, the only, Granville Barbeque! Luckily, a friend of Nat’s persuaded him to change the name to the much catchier White Spot before opening, which itself was the name of another restaurant in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the name “White Spot” had negative racial connotations in LA, as the city itself was known as the “white spot of America” at the time. It’s not hard to guess what that would’ve meant.
But back in Vancouver, things began to pick up speed, and fast. In 1935, Nat strikes a deal with Mr. Felix Guichon, a local potato farmer, to supply the emerging chain with the ingredients to create their famous French fries, a partnership that still exists today. The brand continues to grow, and the lower mainland is eating it up! In the 1960’s, White Spot introduces it’s most beloved ingredient: Triple O’s Sauce. Not only would the sauce’s mysterious ingredients become stuff of legend, but in 1997, the name would be used for the new fast-food branch of the business.
It’s hard to find somewhere in the Lower Mainland where the legacy of White Spot isn’t present. In 1978, Capilano Stadium was renamed to Nat Bailey stadium, in honor of the man who started it all. The annual Pirate Pack day has become some what of a tradition, and the iconic kid’s meal of the same name has become a key part of childhood for millions of BC kids. White Spot’s influence can even be felt overseas, with locations in Hong Kong, China, Manila, Taiwan, and Macau.
So why do British Columbians love White Spot so much? Well, for starters, the Spot has made a name for itself as the cozy, family restaurant. A gathering place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, you name it. There’s no lobster, no premium New York sirloin, just the comfort food classics. Sure, there’s other diners with a similar atmosphere, but none of them have been as integral to British Columbia’s culture as White Spot. It’s one of the only recognizable chains in the province we can call our own, so of course we’re partial to it.
Me personally, my fondness for the place is routed in childhood memories picking up dinner at the drive-in at the now-defunct Willowbrook Mall location with my dad, wearing a Pirate Pack on my head as a hat, and running my hands through the fountain in the foyer. But the best part is knowing that, when I eventually have kids of my own, the Spot will be there, just as it was for my grandparents, their children and me. Ready for graduations, birthdays, and everything in between.
Written by Noah Schmidt
Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca