'Completely destroyed': Vancouver restaurant closes three months after opening due to fire
Newly opened Vancouver restaurant Osteria Otto is asking for community support after a fire on Wednesday night.
“After more than a year of planning, building, and dreaming, Ignacio, Joe, and Daniel opened Osteria Otto at 8th and Main this past December. For three wonderful months, we had the privilege of serving this community and seeing our vision come to life, but this chapter as we knew it has come to a sudden and heavy end,” wrote the restaurant on Instagram.
The team shared that the fire had broken out in the unit above the restaurant and had assured everyone in the restaurant at the time that it was safe. However, water damage from the firefighting efforts has left the restaurant “completely destroyed.”
“It is clear that returning to operations will not be possible,” added Otto.
According to Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Assistant Chief Pierre Morin, the fire appeared to start in one of the bedrooms, with smoke and flames showing from the third floor.
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Osteria Otto first opened its doors in December of 2025 and served a variety of Italian share plates in a room inspired by Japanese listening bars.
Since the fire, the team has launched a GoFundMe to help cover the lost wages and provide emergency support to its team as they navigate the sudden transition.
“While we begin the long, difficult process of working with insurance to see what can be salvaged, our immediate priority is not the walls or the kitchen, it is the people. This situation is complex and challenging for everyone involved, and the impact goes far beyond the physical space. This fundraiser will help cover lost wages as well as unexpected expenses as we navigate this difficult time together. Our staff are the heartbeat of Osteria Otto. They are the ones who made the last three months so special, and they have suddenly found themselves without a workplace or a paycheck,” wrote Otto.
Funds will directly go to support lost wages and emergency support for staff, as well as unexpected costs related to the sudden closure.
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“Ignacio and our entire team are devastated, but we are also deeply moved by the outpouring of love we have already received from the neighbourhood,” added the restaurant. “If you were planning to come try Otto but never quite made it through our doors, or if you were a regular who became part of our family in these short few months, a donation of any size helps our staff immensely. Every dollar will go directly to our team to ensure they can pay their rent and buy groceries while we navigate this situation.”
Those looking to donate can do so through the provided GoFundMe.
With files from Daniel Chai