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healthing leaf

fire started in grocery store in troubled downtown woodward's building

by david carrigg
published mar 31, 2026
last updated apr 01, 2026
read time 1 minute read
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read time 1 minute read
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a man was arrested on monday evening after a fire was lit inside nesters market grocery store in the woodward’s building.
the blaze comes two months after london drugs closed its operation at the same location due to continuing thefts and violence toward staff in the area close to the downtown eastside
sgt. adam donaldson of the vancouver police department said firefighters were sent to the store at 333 abbott st. at 5:30 p.m. after a man walked into the store and lit a fire.
“vancouver fire and rescue services attended and put out the flames. fortunately, no one was injured but the fire, smoke and water caused extensive damage to the store,” donaldson said.
the man, who was arrested, and police are recommending charges of arson. the man’s name isn’t being released pending charge approval.
nesters market and london drugs were the anchor tenants in the woodward’s building redevelopment.
the vpd has a plan to open a training academy in the abandoned london drugs space.
dcarrigg@postmedia.com
david carrigg
david carrigg

i am an experienced journalist who has worked in this field for almost 30 years. i was trained in albany, western australia, for the albany advertiser at a time when they were still instructing new reporters how to write in shorthand. many things have changed in our industry since then, but the stories remain. i have written about almost everything over the years and still very much enjoy the job and the privilege it gives me meeting people from every walk of life.

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