Historic Victoria Advertisements
Beer, Wine & Liquor 1910-1919
As part of our series on Historic Victoria Advertisements, Beer, Wine & Liquor, 1910-1919, here is a 1912 advertisement by Pither & Leiser, “Wholesale Wine and Spirits Merchants” for Whyte & Mackay Special Selected Highland Whisky [note: Whyte & Mackay is still in business]. In 1912, Pither & Leiser was operating its Victoria business from its warehouse and offices at 1019 Wharf Street.
1912 advertisement for Pither & Leiser, 1019 Wharf Street (Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours collection)
Pither & Leiser has the historical distinction of having operated from three separate downtown Victoria Heritage Buildings and having built two of those downtown Victoria Heritage Buildings. As far as we are aware, it is the only company with that track record.
Here are the three downtown Victoria Heritage Buildings associated with Pither & Leiser:
Pither & Leiser began its Victoria operation in the 1890’s in 533 Yates Street. Its business soon outgrew 533 Yates Street so, in 1900, Pither & Leiser retained architect Thomas Hooper to build a new, and larger, office and warehouse on the adjacent lot to the east at 535 Yates Street.
533 Yates Street (photo by Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours)
535 Yates Street was built for Pither & Leiser in 1900 by architect Thomas Hooper. The company moved into 535 Yates Street from its previous location in the adjacent building at 533 Yates Street.
535 Yates Street, built in 1900 and now listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places
By 1904 Pither & Leiser had increased to the point of outgrowing 535 Yates Street so the company retained architects Thomas Hooper, who had designed 535 Yates Street, and his partner C. Elwood Watkins, to design and build a new, and larger, office and warehouse a few blocks west at 1019 Wharf Street.
1019 Wharf Street, built in 1906 by architects Thomas Hooper and C. Elwood Watkins for Pither & Leiser, a liquor and wine wholesaler and importer.
Max Leiser, one of the principals of Pither & Leiser, also retained Thomas Hooper in 1913 to design and build 1320-1324 Blanshard Street, which Max Leiser opened in 1913 as the Kaiserhof Hotel. 1320-1324 Blanshard Street is also a Victoria Heritage Building.
1320-1324 Blanshard Street, originally built in 1912 by architect Thomas Hooper for Max Leiser, who used it for his Kaiserhof Hotel.
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