Vancouver's Dining Scene Mourns Loss of Beloved Establishments in 2025
The year 2025 marked a significant shift in Vancouver's culinary landscape as numerous iconic restaurants served their final meals. From family-friendly pizzerias to decades-old dim sum institutions, the closures have left both residents and industry observers reflecting on changing dining habits and economic pressures.
Personal Connections to Vanished Favorites
"I was shocked when my wife and I went to Lombardo's a few weeks ago only to discover it is now a Thai restaurant," said Tyrone L'Hirondelle, an East Vancouver resident who had frequented the pizzeria with his family for years. "The new place (Sud Soi) ain't bad, but I still miss Lombardo's. You couldn't go wrong with any of their pasta dishes and the Margherita pizza was my go-to favorite. It was a nice place for dinner that was kid friendly."
Lombardo's, notable as one of Vancouver's first eateries to utilize a wood-fired pizza oven, represented just one of many restaurant closures that reshaped the city's dining options throughout 2025.
Notable Closures That Reshaped the City's Dining Scene
The list of high-profile restaurant closures in 2025 includes several establishments that had become integral to Vancouver's culinary identity:
- Pizzeria Farina - A Main Street pizza destination that operated for 13 years
- Cartems Donuts - A Mount Pleasant and Coquitlam craft donut favorite that began in 2013 and closed its last two locations on Valentine's Day
- Flamingo Chinese Restaurant - A 50-year dim sum favorite that had relocated from Cambie to Marine Drive in 2017
- The Poor Italian - An establishment that opened in 2009
- Zefferelli's Spaghetti Joint - Served Italian comfort food on Robson Street for 35 years
- Floata Seafood Restaurant - A Chinatown landmark
- MeeT in Gastown - A vegan comfort food favorite that operated for nearly a decade
Industry Perspectives on the Changing Landscape
"The Poor Italian, Zefferelli's, and Flamingo – those places weren't chasing trends," observed Andy Agnesini, owner of Bar Corso on Commercial Drive. "They were part of the city's muscle memory. You went there for comfort, for familiarity, for the feeling that someone had been cooking the same thing the same way for decades and didn't need to apologize for it."
While exact numbers remain elusive, indications suggest restaurant closures in 2025 may have been slightly fewer than in 2024. However, the economic reality for many establishments remains challenging.
Economic Pressures Facing B.C. Restaurants
"What we're seeing is a lot of end-of-leases coming up," explained Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association. "And because of the poor profitability that restaurants are experiencing right now, we're seeing a lot of owners just deciding not to continue."
According to industry data, approximately 45 percent of restaurants in British Columbia are either breaking even or operating at a loss. Additional factors contributing to closures include:
- A persistent labour shortage affecting service quality and operational capacity
- Changing consumer spending habits, with people dining out less frequently or spending less when they do
- Increased operational costs across multiple categories
Community Response and Cultural Impact
The closures have prompted creative responses from Vancouver residents who valued these establishments. Robin J. Kavanaugh, a filmmaker who moved to Vancouver from Ireland in 2020, created a short film documenting the final day of Cartems Donuts as a tribute to his favorite Mount Pleasant shop.
"One of the things that really coloured my experience when I first moved here was the range of the local business scene here," Kavanaugh noted, highlighting how independent restaurants contribute to Vancouver's unique character.
While some related businesses continue operating – including Farina a Legna on the North Shore, Little Bird Dim Sum in Kitsilano, and MeeT's Yaletown and Main Street locations – the loss of these iconic establishments represents a tangible shift in Vancouver's dining culture and community gathering spaces.
