In 2006, towards the end of the sneaker boom and when streetwear was making its way into everyone’s lexicon, Arthur and Daniel Chmielewski decided to hang up their suits and ties for sneakers and denim and open a shop. They had ambitions of opening their doors in Vancouver’s Gastown, back then a new up and coming area for retail. But they were a bit too late for the area so they opted instead for their hometown of Edmonton, free perhaps from the politics and competition. Fast-forward three years though and the retail landscape in Gastown has changed. When the Edmonton shop first opened, most of the lines and brands Haven carried already had a home in Vancouver. Over time though, other shops in the area have gone in different directions while at the same time Haven’s brand list has become more edited and focused and there’s no longer too much crossover.

 

Combine that with the always-attractive cobbled streets and brick walls of Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood and Gastown’s appeal could no longer be resisted. Thus, Haven Select was conceived. While the area has seen significant development rapid modernization which has taken away some of the old world charm of the neighborhood, Arthur and Daniel chose a space that has it in spades. Keeping the theme of an unbranded almost destination shop, the newest Haven is located within the historic Gaoler’s Mews, once the site of the city’s first jail. The run-down space was definitely nothing special at first and needed plenty of work seeing as it had been unoccupied for years as the building played background to the infamous Blood Alley and its junkies. The small two-story space had a sagging second floor, barely any electricity and the most rickety of staircases. Luckily, Daniel and Arthur had the vision necessary to see past

 

the space’s shortcomings and see what the other’s didn’t see: four walls of exposed, original brick, high ceilings, and large windows with cast iron bars. Taking inspiration from places like Loveless and the Deluxe/Bedwin shop in Japan, the renovated (by Arthur and his father) Haven features a fairly raw looking interior made up of black steel and dark wood, yet the abundance of natural light and some well placed vegetation give the shop a warm and welcoming feel. While the custom built racks and tables currently feature some of the most well known and sought after brands in the world, the Chmielewski’s plan on bringing in more. Going forward, Haven will offer brands that are barely available in North America and thanks to their beautiful new shop, Vancouver will be the latest place of refuge for them.

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Photos by Owen Parrott
Words by Owen Parrott
Available at Haven, 7 Gaolers Mews, Blood Alley, Vancouver Canada