Sing Lee Block

Across the street from the bank building is the Townsite Mall constructed in 1940 as the Powell Stores. This is the original site of the Sing Lee Store building in 1912. Sam Sing had been providing a laundry and grocery service down on the waterfront for the Michigan and Puget Sound loggers. He built his new store in this location and rented space to other merchants.

The Sing Lee block housed the Star Restaurant, the Sing Lee General Store, Wilshire and Lant Clothing, the Pool Room, the Union Tailor Shop and the first Local 76 headquarters.

The Powell River Company had always wanted to buy out their competition and they were successful in 1923. Sam Sing moved his business to the Shinglemill on Powell Lake. The building was renamed the Brooklon Black (after Powell River Company founders Dwight and Anson Brooks and Michael Scanlon). The building was razed in 1941 for the construction of the existing building.

Sing Lee Block - circa 1916

Sing Lee block & Rodmay Hotel circa 1914