Address: 718 W. Pender Street, Vancouver
The Arctic Club was one of several cocktail and supper clubs in Vancouver, operating throughout 1930s, 40s, and 50s. According to recollections of the Arctic Club at the Vancouver Jazz Forum, it was a “suit and tie” joint where you needed to display a purchased membership card and sign in before entering.
The club was co-owned by Bob Mitten, Sr. and Ken Stauffer, who both came to Vancouver from Saskatachawan. The Arctic Club had an aura of exclusivity as it required visitors to wear a suit and tie and present a membership card. The Arctic Club suffered a fire in 1961, which greatly reduced its operations, until it was sold in 1973 and demolished in 1981.
Photo source: Tom Carter’s archive with UBC iSchool
