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.
It’s Posh boutique, Steveston. People in pic are OUAT crew scouting the location.
Nikka Fishing Marine, Steveston. Note lack of a clock tower. It is CGI’d into TV shots in post-production.
Moncton Street, Steveston. Another place they left in TV land.
Steveston Information/Tourist Office. Full of fun OUAT facts. And souvenirs.
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.
Steveston Marina. Some yummy restaurants in this area.