End of an Era: Vancouver's Historic Rufus Guitar Shop and Bill Chow Jewellers Announce 2026 Closures
Vancouver is preparing to bid farewell to two of its most storied businesses, as both Rufus Guitar and Drum Shop and Bill Chow Jewellers have announced they will not see out the year 2026. These closures represent significant losses for their respective communities, with each establishment having served customers for decades.
The Final Notes for Rufus Guitar and Drum Shop
Located at the corner of Commercial Drive and East 2nd Avenue, Rufus Guitar and Drum Shop will close its doors permanently this Saturday, ending a remarkable journey that began in the late 1960s. The original Rufus Guitar Shop was founded in Montreal by luthier Rufus Stewart before being purchased by Chuck Baker, who relocated the business to Vancouver in 1984.
The shop initially opened in Point Grey at Alma Street and West 10th Avenue before guitarist and employee Blaine McNamee purchased the store in 2014. McNamee expanded operations with a drum-only store around the corner from the original location in 2015, and in 2019, he established the Commercial Drive location that will now close.
On Tuesday, only 11 guitars remained for sale alongside some amplifiers, T-shirts, and guitar straps. The back of the store, where guitar and drum lessons once took place, has already been closed for good. Workers on the floor were tight-lipped about the reasons for closure, and McNamee was unavailable for comment.
The property, valued at $6.5 million, is owned by 1801 Commercial Developments Ltd. Rufus Stewart, the original founder, now lives on Vancouver Island and remains highly regarded within the music industry.
Kerrisdale's Timepiece Tradition Winds Down
Across town in Kerrisdale, Bill Chow Jewellers is preparing for its final summer of operation. Founded in 1950 by Bill Chow, the business has become an institution in the neighbourhood. Chow established the shop five years after leaving the British army, where he served in the Force 136 commando unit during World War II.
Taking advantage of free training offered to veterans, Chow chose to specialize in horology—the science of time measurement and clocks. The first shop was located on the 2300-block of West 41st Avenue, where Bill and his wife Lily lived at the back before purchasing a home in the neighbourhood.
In the mid-1960s, the store moved one block east to its current location at 2241 West 41st Avenue. In 1990, Chow oversaw the development of a distinctive French-styled red brick building with a prominent clock front after the original structure was demolished.
Bill and Lily's daughter Elaine and her husband Hank eventually took over the family business but are now ready to retire. Their daughter has expressed no interest in continuing what Elaine described as the "headache" of running the business.
Hank has expressed additional concerns about safety, noting that soaring gold prices—which have doubled in the past two years—have led to two break-in attempts. "It certainly doesn't feel as safe as it once did," he told The Vancouver Sun. "Lenscrafters a block away have been broken into just for their sunglasses."
The couple has not set an exact closing date but confirmed it will occur sometime this summer.
Community Impact and Historical Significance
These closures represent more than just business transactions—they mark the end of community landmarks that have served generations of Vancouver residents. Rufus Guitar Shop developed a loyal following that included big-name guitarists who purchased vintage instruments from the store, while Bill Chow Jewellers became a Kerrisdale fixture known for its craftsmanship and family ownership.
As Vancouver continues to evolve, the loss of these longstanding businesses highlights the changing landscape of local commerce and the challenges facing independent retailers in the city.
