So on my most recent vacation, I went to Storybrooke. Er, Steveston and Ft Langley, BC.
Most of “Storybrooke” is located along Moncton and Bayview streets between Third Avenue and No 1 Road in Steveston. This quaint little Richmond area burg appears to have embraced its alternate identity (hey, tourist money!). Although filming had not yet started, some of the buildings retained their “Storybrooke” signage. Others were disconcertingly Steveston/Canadian.
Actually walking the street and seeing where everything is relative to everything else gives you a three-dimensional context when you go back to watch the show. In each new scene, you can orient yourself and say, “The characters are near X. Yep, there it is.” It also makes you notice how often the show uses shipping pallets stacked against walls to hide the Steveston signs.
Another thing you notice upon rewatch is when the same business is sometimes named one thing, sometimes named something else in different episodes. Perhaps the name changed in real life, or maybe they just didn’t bother covering up the real name in early episodes. On-screen and off-screen photos follow. Because I really am that geeky. Warning: Image heavy. All screencaps courtesy of screencapped.net.
Storybrooke Cannery:
Gulf of Georgia Cannery
Episode 2.01, Broken
Episode 2.19, Lacey
Mr. Gold’s shop:
It’s Posh boutique, Steveston. People in pic are OUAT crew scouting the location.
Episode 1.19, The Return
Storybrooke Library
Nikka Fishing Marine, Steveston. Note lack of a clock tower. It is CGI’d into TV shots in post-production.
Episode 1.02, The Thing You Love Most
Marine Garage:
Marine Garage, Steveston
Episode 1.02, The Thing You Love Most
Storybrooke Hardware and Paint
Steveston Marine and Hardware
Episode 1.22, A Land Without Magic
Downtown Storybrooke
Second Avenue and Moncton St, Steveston (photo credit: Jane Pine)
Episode 1.22, A Land Without Magic
Moncton Street, Steveston
Episode 1.02, The Thing You Love Most
Moncton Street, Steveston
Episode 2.17, Welcome To Storybrooke
Moncton Street, Steveston. Note they just left the name there. Then not-so-subtely remind you, “You’re in Canada!”
Episode 1.02, The Thing You Love Most
Storybrooke Pet Shelter:
Moncton Street, Steveston. Another place they left in TV land.
Episode 2.01, Broken
Granny’s Diner:
Steveston Cannery Cafe
Episode 2.01, Broken
Storybrooke Post Office
Steveston Information/Tourist Office. Full of fun OUAT facts. And souvenirs.
Episode 1.04, The Price of Gold
Winemakers
Steveston Winemakers. I actually went in here looking for wine. Silly American. They just bottle it.
Episode 1.04, The Price of Gold. Store is on far right. Pretty sure it still says “Steveston” in the distance there.
Storybrooke Marina
Steveston Marina. Some yummy restaurants in this area.
Episode 3.10, The New Neverland
Why do photographs always catch me when I drop my smile? (photo credit: )
Episode 1.18, The Stable Boy
Steveston Marina
Episode 2.13, Tiny
Some of the external shots of Storybrooke are actually filmed in Fort Langley, BC, including the town hall:
Fort Langley Community Center
Episode 1.08, Desperate Souls
Author Nancy E. Shaffer 