840 1st Avenue was built in 1939 as a garage. At that time 1st Avenue was part of the Island Highway, the main road connection running along the east side of Vancouver Island, so it made complete economic sense to locate automobile service businesses along 1st Avenue.

840 1st Avenue is currently occupied by Big O Tires.
Here is a map showing the location of 840 1st Avenue:
Here is a Google Street View image of 840 1st Avenue:
Tim Mitton, the owner of Big O Tire, has told us that 840 1st Avenue is currently owned by Big O Tires but, before Big O Tires purchased the building, “it was owned by the Grouhel family. Kay Grouhel was the Mayor of Ladysmith for many years. They owned the building and actually lived in one end of it in an upstairs apartment.”
We will add more historical information about 840 1st Avenue in the near future.