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A breakdown of the saddest Vancouver restaurant closures in January

Marco Ovies
Marco Ovies
|
Jan 29 2025, 2:00 pm
A breakdown of the saddest Vancouver restaurant closures in January

After a brutal 2024 for the restaurant industry, we crossed our fingers for some relief come 2025. However, if January is any indication of how 2025 will go, we’re in for a rough ride.

From 14-year-old donut spots to board game cafes, bubble tea shops, and Middle Eastern eateries, Dished reported on 18 restaurant closures.

Here’s a roundup of restaurants that have closed or announced they will be closing soon.

Closed

Aleph Middle Eastern Eatery

On the day of its seventh anniversary, Aleph took to Instagram to announce that it would be closing its doors.

ā€œFor seven incredible years, Aleph has been more than a restaurant. Itā€™s been a place of connection, a celebration of flavours, and a shared journey with our community. Now, as we prepare to say goodbye, we invite you to join us in making these final two weeks unforgettable,ā€ wrote Aleph.

However, Aleph recently posted an update saying it will continue delivery and pick-up “until itā€™s no longer possible.”

Address:Ā 1889 Powell Street, Vancouver

The Raving Gamer Bistro

The Raving Gamer Bistro, located in Langley, has closed due to ā€œeconomic uncertaintyā€ andĀ SkyTrain construction.

ā€œIn the face of ever-increasing cost of business, economic uncertainty, and impending 48 months of SkyTrain construction, we can no longer continue to operate as a great little Local community hub,ā€ said The Raving Gamer on Instagram.

Address:Ā 5735 203rd Street #106, Langley

Ninja Bubble Tea

Ninja Bubble Tea took toĀ InstagramĀ to share that it has closed its Glen Drive location in Coquitlam.

ā€œThis isnā€™t just a store ā€” itā€™s where it all began. This is the spot where we learned the ropes, found our rhythm, and grew alongside the incredible community that supported us every step of the way. The laughter, memories, and milestones weā€™ve shared here will always hold a special place in our hearts,ā€ said the store.

Address:Ā 2972 Glen Drive, Coquitlam

Pause nā€™ Sip

ā€œItā€™s with a heavy heart that we share this with you; we have made the difficult decision to close our Richmond location,ā€ shared Pause n’ Sip.

Pause nā€™ Sip opened inĀ November 2022Ā and was best known for its fresh fruit and bubble teas, as well as Yakult drinks and other specials.

Address:Ā 4000 No. 3 Road Unit 135, Richmond

International Sandwich Factory

Located at 1086 W Broadway, this spot was best known for its meaty handhelds filled with pork, prosciutto, turkey, Montreal-style smoked meat, ham, roast beef, and more.

The restaurant has not made an official announcement of the closure, but a new spot has already opened in its place called Saiko Sushi.

Address:Ā 1086 W Broadway, Vancouver

Festal Cafe

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A post shared by Festal Cafe (@festal.cafe)

Many were excited when they heard Festal Cafe had reopened inĀ SquamishĀ in January 2024 after it had closed itsĀ Vancouver location. However, the cafe has now shared that it has closed its most recent and only location just over a year later.

Address:Ā 38334 Buckley Avenue, Squamish

Vegas Donuts

Just five months after initially opening, Vegas Donuts has closed its latest location with plans to move to Maple Ridge.

Owner of Vegas Donuts, Mike McBean, confirmed to Dished that the shop will be moving its 1610 Robson Street location to 22361 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge, with a grand opening planned for later this January. However, McBean did not provide a reason for the move.

Address: 1610 Robson Street, Vancouver

Hive Cafe

While the cafe has yet to make a formal announcement on its social media, the windows for the spot have been papered up, and itā€™s currently listed as ā€œTemporarily Closedā€ on Google.

Dished reached out to Hive Cafe for more information but has not heard back.

Other recent closures in New Westminster includeĀ Hub RestaurantĀ (which has since turned into Big Way Hot Potā€™s latest location) andĀ Fratelli Bakery.

Address: 609 Front St, New Westminster

Horangee Sikdang

Toronto-based new-wave Korean bistroĀ Horangee Sikdang, which opened its doors in July 2024, has closed just five months later.

The restaurant has yet to make an announcement of the closure, but it is currently listed as Permanently Closed on Google.

However, a new restaurant has already moved into the space.

Address:Ā 1184 Denman Street #203, Vancouver

Grains Fish Noodle

Grains Fish Noodle specializes in fish and grain noodle soups, which are made with pork and fish broth and special multigrain noodles.

On December 15, Grains Fish Noodle closed its Kingsway location. This was its only Vancouver location, but it still has two outposts in Richmond and one in Burnaby.

Address:Ā 2427 Kingsway, Vancouver

Ju Restaurant

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A post shared by Ju (@ju.restaurant)

Ju Restaurant, located at 782 Cambie Street, Vancouver, opened its doors on July 4, 2024. The space was previously occupied byĀ Black Rice Izakaya, which closed its doors after 10 years of operation.

ā€œI know it only lasted six months,ā€ said general manager Young Shin, ā€œbut it also was enough time to learn that the concept and type of cuisine does not belong in the neighbourhood.ā€

Address:Ā 782 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Kulinarya Filipino Eatery

Kulinarya Filipino Eatery, best known for its Kamayan-style dining, a Filipino meal eaten with your hands instead of plates and cutlery, announced it has closed its Coquitlam location.

ā€œWe are deeply grateful to the Coquitlam community for embracing us, supporting us, and being a part of our journey. Your love and encouragement have been the heart of Kulinaryas,ā€ continued the restaurant.

But don’t worry; its Vancouver location at 1134 Commercial Drive will remain open.

Address:Ā 114-292 Glen Drive, Coquitlam

Closing soon

Cartems Donuts

Cartems shared the news on its social channelsĀ and website with an emotional note thanking all its supporters for over a decade of delicious operations.

Widely known asĀ one ofĀ the best donut makers in town, Cartems serves up tasty takes on classic flavours and carved out a spaceĀ of its own with unique offerings like the London Fog, Honey Parmesan, and Smoked Maple Walnut donuts.

The donut makers’ final day of operation will be February 14.

Address:Ā 2190 Main Street, Vancouver

Address: 91 Golden Drive, Coquitlam

Paragon Tea Room ā€” Cambie Street

Paragon Tea Room announced on Instagram that it will be closing its Cambie Village location, with plans to relocate in Vancouver. The tea room cited the reason for the closure is because the landlord is preparing to make way for a new development.

ā€œWhile we understand the nature of change, itā€™s hard to say goodbye to this space that has been home to so many great moments shared over tea,ā€ said Paragon.

Paragon will continue to operate its locations in YVR Airport and itsĀ new location at 4328 No. 3 Road, Richmond, which opened in September 2024. Its final day at its Vancouver spot will be February 28.

Address:Ā 3361 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Mochido

Mochido confirmed to Dished that it will be closing both its Vancouver and Coquitlam locations.

ā€œItā€™s with a heavy heart that weā€™re announcing the closure of our Vancouver and Coquitlam locations at the end of January,ā€ a representative from Mochido told Dished.

Mochido got its start back in 2021 when it operated out of Vancouverā€™s Commissary Connect on Laurel Street, where folks could either walk in for treats or order for delivery. Since then, it opened anĀ open-kitchen concept in CoquitlamĀ (which we referred to as ā€œdonut heavenā€) and operated numerousĀ pop-upsĀ throughout Metro Vancouver.

Address:Ā 8811 Laurel Street #107, Vancouver

Address:Ā 1188 Pinetree Way #100, Coquitlam

Punk Rock Pastries

Punk Rock Pastriesā€™s owner, Hollie Fraser, shared a video on Instagram with the news that the bakery will be closing up shop.

ā€œAs youā€™ve probably been seeing, thereā€™s been a lot of places shutting down this year. Unfortunately, this will be Punk Rock Pastriesā€™ last year,ā€ Fraser said.

An exact closing day has yet to be revealed.

Address:Ā 5548 Hastings Street, Burnaby

Aphrodite Organic Cafe

Longstanding Kitsilano staple Aphrodite Organic Cafe will be closing for good on Sunday, February 2, 2025, after over 20 years of serving the community.

ā€œAfter many years of being a beloved destination in Kitsilano, the rising costs of doing business has simply become too much for us to continue,ā€ said the cafe. ā€œWe want to take these last couple of weeks to honour and celebrate our amazing staff, our wonderful customers and our incredible products.ā€

Address:Ā 3605 W 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Liberte Cafe and Restaurant

Liberte Cafe and Restaurant took to Instagram to announce that it will close its doors in February 2025.

ā€œAfter many wonderful years of serving you, the landlord has decided to increase our rent exorbitantly, and we will not renew our lease due to the unfair rent increase,ā€ said the restaurant. ā€œSince our government has no limitations on excessive rent increases, we ask that our loyal community continue to support local long-standing family businesses as a way of community action and awareness of the injustices when landlords prioritize capital over community.ā€

Address:Ā 3670 Vanness Avenue, Vancouver

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