Vancouver Chinatown's Legendary Italian Retailer Angelo Tosi Passes at 93
Angelo Tosi, the beloved proprietor of Tosi and Company in Vancouver's Chinatown, has died at the age of 93. His passing marks the end of an era for one of the neighborhood's most distinctive and enduring businesses.
A Family Legacy Spanning Generations
The Tosi family has been a fixture at 624 Main Street since 1930, when Peter Tosi first moved the store to that location. When Peter passed away in 1973, his son Angelo assumed control of the business, continuing a tradition that would span nearly a century.
Angelo Tosi literally grew up in the store, having lived in a two-bedroom apartment upstairs during his childhood. He dedicated most of his life to the enterprise, working six days a week until just two weeks before his death on February 16, when he discovered he had cancer.
A Time Capsule in the Heart of Chinatown
While Chinatown transformed around it over the decades, Tosi and Company remained remarkably unchanged. The 6,000-square-foot store and warehouse functioned as a living time capsule, preserving the atmosphere of a bygone era.
The establishment maintained its original 1930 fixtures, including marble-topped counters, an expansive wall of aged wooden shelves, and even an ancient incandescent light bulb suspended from the ceiling. Tosi's practical philosophy was simple: "As long as it don't break, we'll use it."
Traditional Business Practices
Tosi operated his business with old-fashioned methods that contrasted sharply with modern retail practices. He personally wrote out bills by hand and accepted only cash payments. The store specialized in importing and distributing authentic Italian products like cheese, pasta, and olive oil sourced directly from Italy and California.
He took immense pride in both his store and his Italian heritage, emphasizing quality over price in an era dominated by supermarkets. "We try to handle good stuff in here, so that people will come back," Tosi explained in 2011, his distinctive vocal cadence reminiscent of Eli Wallach's character in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Frugality and Character
Tosi was famously frugal in his business operations. When heating costs became prohibitive, he simply stopped heating the store for years, instead wearing a sweater and toque to combat the winter chill. "With 18-foot ceilings, it would cost me $2,000 a month, maybe more, just with the heat," he remarked in 1999. "What the hell! Then I sell two pounds of macaroni for 10 cents? How am I going to pay my heating bills? Can't do it, it's tough."
His reluctance to discard anything extended to business records dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, along with personal mementos like his Strathcona school yearbooks from 1943 and 1947, discovered in the store after his passing.
A Lasting Legacy
Angelo Tosi's death represents more than just the passing of a business owner—it marks the conclusion of a remarkable chapter in Vancouver's commercial history. For 93 years, Tosi and Company served as both a retail establishment and a cultural landmark, embodying the immigrant experience and entrepreneurial spirit that helped shape Vancouver's diverse character.
The store's future remains uncertain, but its legacy as a cherished institution in one of Canada's most historic neighborhoods is assured. Tosi's commitment to quality, tradition, and community connection created a business that transcended its commercial function to become part of the city's social fabric.
