Vancouver Hoods | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Blog

Gastown restaurants change locations, new ones on the way: Cobre, Sardine Can, Rodney’s

Peter — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:18:30 +0000

Cobre Gastown is moving

There’s a restaurant shuffle going on right now on Powell Street in Gastown, which will result in four great restaurants (two of them brand-new) on one block.

Popular latin restaurant Cobre has closed up their location at 52 Powell Street, and will be opening up next door in a larger location. The new spot will feature large windows overlooking the street and more seats. Right now crews are working on the new Cobre and it should be open within a few months.

Rodney’s Oyster House will be opening a new location in the old Cobre space. Work is underway and the location should be open sometime this summer.

Also on the same block, the former Tamam Mediterranean/Brasil Stone Grill/countless other restaurants over the years, will open soon as The Sardine Can, a Spanish tapas restaurant and drinking spot from the same people who brought us Cafeteria on Main. The Sardine Can, like the name suggests, will be small, only about 500 square feet.

On the other side of the alley closer to Maple Tree Square, Café Dolcino has been sold and looks to be re-opening soon as another concept. Although no one seems to know who snapped up the location, work has been going on inside for about a week now.

Quite a bit further up Powell St., past Oppenheimer Park, the Fat Dragon BBQ has been open for a couple weeks now, and is getting rave reviews for their southern/asian BBQ plates.

Sequel 138 condos in Downtown Eastside approved

Peter — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:39:16 +0000

Sequel 138 condos on East Hastings approved

The City of Vancouver Development Permit Board has approved the Sequel 138 condo project on the site of the former Pantages Theare at 138 East Hastings, Vancouver.

The condo project will contain 97 units, 18 of them being social housing. 79 one-bedroom condos will go on sale soon, starting at less than $250,000. Purchasers must make less than $60,000 a year, promise to live in the unit and preference will be given to people who already live or work in the Downtown Eastside.

There will be a program to help with the downpayment and a low deposit structure. The presentation centre for Sequel 138 is located in the International Village Shopping Centre.

Sequel 138 was fiercely opposed by poverty activists in the area, who say condos on the 100-block of East Hastings, will lead to further gentifrication of the area. VANDU (Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users) even warned that the development would “destabilize the drug market” in the area. Sequel 138 will be located a couple of doors away from the Carnegie Centre at Main and Hastings.

The building itself will feature 2,500 worth of art space, urban agriculture plots and exterior corridors and courtyard. There will be a passageway linking E .Hastings St. with E. Pender St. in Chinatown, which will house several commercial units.

Walking distance to downtown, Chinatown and Gastown, this development promises to be some of the most affordable one-bedroom condos available in Vancouver.

Sequel 138 is expected to be completed in 2013. For updates visit www.sequel138.com

Cadeaux Bakery coming to Gastown from Dirty Apron/Chambar vets

Peter — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:55:58 +0000

Cadeaux Bakery coming to Gastown in New Year

A french bakery is coming to the eastern edge of Gastown, at Powell and Main.

Cadeaux Bakery is the dream of Dirty Apron/Chambar alumni Slavita Johnson and Eleanor Chow. The large space in the SMART Gastown building at 168 Powell St. is being fixtured right now. The bakery hopes to serve commuter traffic heading to and from downtown, and residents of the rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood. It also doesn’t hurt the bakery is in the commercial space of a new condo building.

The space is designed by the same team behind Meat & Bread and Pizzeria Farina, so expect clean lines and lots of character.

Cadeaux will sell french-themed baked goods, cakes and cookies. There will be a small bar area where customers will be able to have a coffee along with their patissiere. It’s expected to be open by the end of the year.

Nelson the Seagull café coming to Carrall St.

Peter — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:47:56 +0000

Nelson the Seagull opening May 2011 on Carrall St.

Last night while walking down Carrall Street between Hastings and Cordova in Gastown, I spotted signage for “Nelson the Seagull,” in the windows of the recently-restored Rainier Hotel.

There isn’t a lot of other information online, but there is a website, which says Nelson the Seagull will serve fresh bread, coffee and organic fare. The proprietors say the want the cafe “to feel like a lazy summer day spent with friends.”

Nelson the Seagull will be open at 315 Carrall St. sometime in May.

New Slickity Jim’s breakfast joint at 3469 Main St.

Peter — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 19:18:19 +0000

Slickity Jim's re-opens on Main St. at E. 18 Ave., Vancouver

Famous breakfast joint Slickity Jim’s has re-opened on Main St., in their new location at 3469 Main St., near E 18th Ave.

You may remember the original restaurant near Main and Broadway before it was destroyed in a spectacular fire in November 2009.

Owner Mike Zalman was committed to re-opening the restaurant, and in early March, the new Slickity Jim’s re-opened their doors.

Although I used to live in the area, I never made it to the original location before it burned down, so it was a treat to finally have breakfast at the new location.

It was a typical Sunday morning, and we had to wait for about 30 minutes for our table for two, because the restaurant was so busy. No big deal.

Interior of the new Slickity Jim's at 3469 Main St, Vancouver

The room is funky, with gold chandeliers, lots of seating and all sorts of interesting pieces collected by the owner through the restaurant. The space used to be a bike shop but you would never know.

I ordered the “Morning Yearning,” which consists of two free run eggs any style with bacon, chorizo, grilled tomato, and veggie chilli, served with multigrain, rye or sourdough toast for $9.75.

It was tasty, and the chili was a nice touch I’ve never had at breakfast before. Can’t say I’ll making it part of my regular breakfast menu, though! Coffee was hot and drinkable, which can be hard to come by at some breakfast places around town. (Joe’s Grill, I’m talking to you.)

I would have liked if the bacon was a bit thicker, and not just the standard grocery store bacon, but that was my only complaint. Service was friendly and relatively quick considering how busy they were.

The following review comes from my dear friend Marisa, who had the benny and used to frequent the old location before it burned down:

“Mine was absolutely delicious, their signature hollandaise sauce though is so good that I sometimes wish they put more on there so I can have more of it with my potatoes (although I am sure they’re saving me from myself in this matter.) It was supposed to come with prosciutto which they had run out of, but was in fact perfect without it. My only complaint would be that it took a while (being so busy) and also I was looking for one on the menu they used to have called “chasing rabbits” that I think had mushrooms on it, and they don’t seem to have re-added it to the current menu. I miss all the vintage collectibles that burned down with the old place, really sad to see a lifetime collection like that go up in flames.”

Slickity Jim's Eggs Benny

Slickity Jim's "The Morning Yearning" breakfast

Check out Slickity Jim’s menu and drop into 3469 Main St., Vancouver for a delicious breakfast with a great atmosphere.

Vancouver’s Pantages Theatre to be demolished

Peter — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:10:00 +0000

Demolition at the Pantages Theatre site. Courtesy: David Jacklin

Sad news about the Pantages Theatre in Downtown Eastside today.

The City of Vancouver has confirmed that demolition permits have been issued for the 104-year-old theatre and adjacent buildings at 130, 132, 134 and 138 East Hastings, just west of the Carengie Community Centre.

Several engineering reports have confirmed what most already knew: the building is falling apart and is unsalvagable. Water has been leaking through a large hole in the roof of the theatre for several years now, destroying what was left of many of the heritage features.

Besides the unfortunate loss of Canada’s oldest remaining vaudeville theatre, starting next week there will be another large empty parcel of land in the Downtown Eastside. Except this vacant piece of land will be at a very vulnerable location – half a block from Hastings and Main.

The city says there are currently no development plans for the site, so get ready for another community garden or tent city.

I presume the owner is awaiting the outcome of the Historic Area Height Review, which is the subject of intense resistance by neighbourhood activists. The review would allow developers to build taller buildings in the DTES and Chinatown.

The Pantages Theatre and the adjacent buildings have been owned since 2005 by Edmonton-based Worthington Properties, who primarily specialize in commercial developments.

For several years, Worthington attempted to sell the land assembly back to the City of Vancouver, with a plan to restore the original theatre and build 120 units of social housing on the site.

The City of Vancouver turned the developer down on more than one occasion, and the property has been for sale as a “land assembly” for the past couple of years.

Next week, the Pantages Theatre and all of its history will be wiped out, and another vacant lot will line East Hastings Street.

The “Save the Pantages” group along with Heritage Vancouver tried valiantly for years to get the city’s attention.

Unfortunately, Vancouver has lost yet another significant heritage structure due to neglect.

More information:

Report from Global BC, Noon News Hour, April 8, 2011

Interior of the Pantages Theatre Vancouver, on East Hastings St., set to be demolished next week. Photo courtesy: Heritage Vancouver

Army & Navy Urban Market convenience store April 4

Peter — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:03:54 +0000

Army & Navy Urban Market opens April 4

Iconic Downtown Eastside department store Army & Navy is opening a new concept store on West Hastings Street between Hamilton Street and Homer Street.

Details are limited, but the “Urban Market” convenience store will open on April 4. The 2,000 square foot space will be stocked with market-type items.

Army & Navy President and CEO Jacqui Cohen is a big booster of the Downtown Eastside and it’s great to see the company trying something new in the neighbourhood. It will be interesting to see how the store does.

Controversial 26-story Mount Pleasant tower spawns ridiculous marketing campaign billboards

Peter — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:16:13 +0000

Is there a copy editor on staff?

Rize Alliance, a well-respected Vancouver developer who delivers some pretty cool projects (The Rolston, Containers, etc.) is facing some serious community opposition to their proposal for a 26-story tower and podium in predominantly low-rise Mount Pleasant.

The site is at the corner of Broadway and Kingsway, across from the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, and where a commercial building once stood before burning down in a much-publicized 2009 fire.

In order to help garner support for their tower proposal, several billboards have been erected on the site, featuring images of supposed Mount Pleasant residents, complete with unintentionally funny “lifestyle” quotes that seem straight out of the boardroom of a Yaletown marketing agency. It doesn’t help the pictures look like stock images and there’s no names attached.

Update March 28: I’ve confirmed the photos and quotes are indeed real. It’s still goofy.

A small park has also been created with grass and gravel, to showcase this eyesore.

I’m sorry Rize, but if you want to win over the savvy residents of Mount Pleasant, this is not going to help your cause. In fact, I think it’s probably having the opposite effect.

Take a look:

"Loner" by Rize Alliance

"So fly."

"Pressure Cooker"

Welcome to the stories that capture the spirit of a community

"Bun in the oven"

Perspective

For information on the Mount Pleasant tower proposal, visit Frances Bula’s blog or view more information on Rize Alliance’s microsite.

Rezoning Application for Mount Pleasant tower.

Boneta moving into Gaoler’s Mews, opening delayed

Peter — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:44:15 +0000

Boneta moving summer 2011

Popular dining spot Boneta is moving, soon… into Gaoler’s Mews in Gastown, at the corner of Water and Carrall.

The newly constructed space is part of the Garage and Terminus developments by the Salient Group. The space is on the development’s central courtyard, behind Coffeebar.

Boneta was originally expected to be open in their new location by February, but obviously it’s been pushed back. Their current location just around the corner at Carrall and Cordova remains open and busy. At the same time, planning has started in their new space as evidenced by the photos – the words “wine” and “bar” are sketched out on the floor using painter’s tape.

The “new” Boneta will feature a solarium, and heated courtyard patio, not to mention modern, new digs and equipment. Salient Group is rumoured to be re-developing their current location (at the Boulder Hotel) once Boneta moves out, likely by the summer.

Boneta's new location in Gastown

Lotus Sound Lounge, Lick and Honey shutting down

Peter — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:28:47 +0000

Lotus Sound Lounge closing

Popular nightspots Lotus, Lick and Honey, all located in the Lotus Hotel are no longer, after a Calgary group bought the entire building including the hotel portion.

There’s no word on who the company is, but we do know that they plan to open a sports bar and “top 40-style club,” presumably after renovations.

Lotus Sound Lounge will open for the final time this Saturday, March 26 for one final dance party. It’s a big blow for many fans, especially for patrons of Lick, which is the only female-driven queer bar in Vancouver.