With redevelopment looming, the clock has finally run out on the original location of one of Vancouver's favourite Vietnamese sandwich shops.
Ba Le will close its first location at 701 Kingsway on June 22. The family-run business shared the news in a heartfelt social media video, with some insight into the 38-year-old sandwich shop's history.
Launched in 1987 in Vancouver by Ong Ba Le and Ba Ba Le, Ba Le is a Vancouver staple for banh mi sandwiches made on French bread baked in-house.
The shop's most popular sandwiches are the shredded chicken, grilled pork, and the cold cut special, however, they also have several other options, like meatball, beef, shredded pork, or veggie.
In addition to traditional banh mi, Ba Le's deli section has take-out meats, bread, and condiments, as well as snacks (chips, peanuts) and desserts, like caramel flan or banana pudding. They're also serving up spring rolls, rice or noodle bowls (com and bun), smoothies, coffee and tea drinks, and canned soft drinks.
The founders, a husband and wife team, have passed the business to their two daughters, who are proudly carrying on the Ba Le family legacy.
"It has been a pleasure serving our community for this long and we will always cherish the memories we've made with all of you here," says one of Ba Le's operators in the video.
"This isn't a goodbye, but a see you again," she adds.
In recent years, Ba Le has grown to include four other locations, of which two are in Vancouver. There's a shop at 691 E Broadway and the one at 3779 Rupert St is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Additionally, there's a Ba Le in Richmond (also just a year old) and one on Fort Street in Victoria.
Both the Rupert Street and Richmond Ba Le locations have an outpost of Hanoi Drip, a Vietnamese coffee and tea shop known for its colourful specialty beverages.
Ba Le's original shop at the Kingsway strip mall is not the only business that will have to close down due to the planned redevelopment. Neighbours Sal Y Limon, Straight Brooklyn Pizza, and Alenka Foods are also affected. V.I.A. is hoping to learn more about their plans for closure or relocation and will update when info is available.
@bale.banhmi After 38 unforgettable years, our original Kingsway location is officially closing its doors. This shop is where it all began — where BaLe’s story, flavours, and community first came to life. It’s been an honour to serve generations of customers, friends, and families from this corner of Vancouver. Thank you for the memories, the love, and the support over nearly four decades. While this chapter is closing, the BaLe spirit continues at all our other locations ❤️ Stop by before our final day — and let’s make a few more memories together. #BaLeDeliBakery #BaLeKingsway #ThankYouKingsway #38YearsStrong #VietnameseFood #VancouverEats #OGLocation #EndOfAnEra #banhmi ♬ original sound - Ba Le Banh Mi
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