Robson Street is a major southeast-northwest thoroughfare in downtown and West End of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
[2] Its name honours John Robson, a major figure in British Columbia's entry into the Canadian Confederation, and Premier of the province from 1889 to 1892.
As of 2006,[needs update] the city of Vancouver overall had the fifth most expensive retail rental rates in the world, averaging US$135 per square foot per year, citywide.
The price of each continues to grow with Vancouver being Burberry's first Canadian location and Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood (which is bounded on the south side by Bloor) now commanding rents of $300 per square foot.
[citation needed] In 1981, a development team presented the city government with a proposal to build a glass canopy over sections of Robson Street.
Although not technically on Robson Street but still considered part of the district, the 'Vancouver Luxury Zone' contain the most expensive upscale stores in the city.