Our Store - Yesterday

A History of British Importers

In the 1920's there existed a menswear store in Victoria, British Columbia called John Christie's Ltd.  The store was at 1004 Government Street and carried "men's furnishings".  The proprietor, Mr. John Christie, had a couple of employees, one of which was named George Fane.  George, like John Christie, was originally from England, but had immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta and worked as a waiter in the King Edward Hotel.  It was at the hotel George met Mr. Christie.  Christie already owned and operated a store in Edmonton and was looking to open a store in Victoria, British Columbia.  When the Victoria store eventually opened, George Fane was hired to run it.

In 1930, George Fane and co-worker George Parsons bought out John Christie.  The two Georges decided to change the name of the store to British Importers, as they were selling boots from North Hampton and binoculars and telescopes made by Dollond & Aitchison in England.  Over the course of the next 14 years George Fane owned and operated British Importers with a couple of different partners, eventually becoming the sole owner.

Picture of George Fane (Courtesy of Peter Fane)

Among other standard men's furnishings, George also sold medal ribbons and black shoes to the Canteen at HMCS Naden.  During World War II, he did a steady business making and selling sailors' uniforms.  George built a mezzanine in the store and purchased commercial sewing machines and hired tailors to make the uniforms.  On busy Saturdays he employed four or five people who would work at full tilt all day long.  One of George's employees was his son, Peter Fane.  Peter worked in the store after school and on weekends until he eventually joined the navy.

Picture of Peter Fane, George's son, taken on the streets of Victoria in 1942 (Courtesy of Peter Fane)


By 1945, George Fane was tiring of the business and sold the store to A.C. Falk and Bernard (Bernie) T. Rogers.

In 1948, T.H. (Tom) Armstrong bought out A.C. Falk and Armstrong and Rogers moved the store to new premises at 641 Yates in 1949.  Armstrong and Rogers maintained their partnership from 1948 until 1960, when Rogers sold his shares to Armstrong.

In 1964, Armstrong moved the store virtually next door, to 631 Yates, formerly a jewellery store.  A year later he took on two new partners, George A. Inrig and J. Duncan McKerracher.  The three men stayed partners until 1968, when Armstrong sold out to the two remaining men.

Inrig and McKerracher continued as partners until 1972, when they sold the store to Michael Goldberg and James Roberts, coincidentally also from Edmonton.  In 1973, they took on former colleague Arthur Naubert as a junior partner.

Goldberg, Roberts and Naubert operated the store, and several satellite locations, for the next 14 years, building a well deserved reputation for service and quality.  In addition to a substantial staff , they also gained another junior partner in Philip Nyren.  In 1977 they moved the store to 1101 Government Street, just a short distance away from its original location at 1004 Government. After almost 30 years, British Importers was back doing business on Government Street.

Picture of British Importers at 1101 Government Street, at the corner of Fort and Government.  Now the site of The Bay Centre.

In 1987, Philip Nyren and Arthur Naubert bought out Goldberg and Roberts.  They negotiated with Cadillac Fairview to open a new British Importers at 1125 Government Street (within the new Eaton Centre, but maintaining their own address).  Under Nyren and Naubert, British Importers remained a Government Street institution for an additional 18 years.

In Fall of 1990, British Importers began publishing a Trend Report twice a year.  This Trend Report has evolved into today's Philip Nyren Magazine.  Please visit our Magazine tab for more information regarding our archived Trend Reports and Philip Nyren Magazine.

In 2004 Nyren and Naubert purchased two buildings at 960/962 Yates Street. They renovated and bid goodbye to Government Street, moving British Importers back to Yates Street, opening September 1^st, 2005.

In 2006, Arthur Naubert started talking about retirement and in 2008 he sold his shares to his long time co-worker and business partner, Philip Nyren.  It was decided that the time was right to change the name of the store, for the store no longer imported boots from North Hampton, nor telescopes and binoculars.  The name British Importers had run its course.  It was time to go back to using the proprietor's name on the sign above the door.

So, as of September 2009 the store has been known as Philip Nyren Menswear & Womenswear. Things have come full circle; from Government Street to Yates Street, back to Government, and then back to Yates; from doing business under John Christies' name, to George Fane renaming the store British Importers, to naming the store Philip Nyren.  After 79 years under the name British Importers, we welcome you to come in to Philip Nyren Menswear & Womenswear.  The name has changed, but the history and spirit remains the same.

If you have any information to add to our History of British Importers; stories, experiences, memories, or photos, please contact us by email at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone at 250.386.1496.  We would love to hear from you!