The end of a long run for a beloved local haunt is near, as Vancouver's all-vegetarian Black Lodge restaurant/bar has announced its closing at the end of the month.
Located at 317 East Broadway, this is actually the second Black Lodge location and it opened its doors in 2017. The East Broadway spot was created a few years after the Black Lodge made its debut as a small bar-centric venue at Kingsway and Carolina.
That original Black Lodge closed soon after the Broadway location got off the ground, as the property was slated for redevelopment.
In its closing announcement on Instagram, the Black Lodge explains that shuttering is in some part due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but there is also more to the equation: "While [COVID-19] has definitely played [its] part in our decision, it’s also more complex than that. Simply put, we always knew that there was more we wanted to accomplish in the future, and that there would be a day where we would decide to close. The pandemic has gifted us a reminder of how short, sweet and precious life is, and even though it is very sad to let go and say goodbye, we are also very excited about what lies ahead."
The Black Lodge continues:
"This past year has had its fair share of obstacles for everyone, but we have been extremely fortunate to have had so much support from many loyal and incredible customers during these times. Thank you to all the customers, staff and other local small businesses, suppliers & breweries that have kept this place going through good times and bad. Our staff past and present for standing by us and making this rewarding and meaningful, you mean so much to us! Words cannot express the gratitude we have, to have been able to serve Mount Pleasant these past 8 years!"
Closing day for The Black Lodge is slated for Feb. 27.
Legacy of Lynch love and hearty veggie pub grub
The Black Lodge has always been known for two primary things: Its Twin Peaks theme and its vegan and vegetarian menu.
The original restaurant was "decked head-to-toe in a rustic Twin Peaks theme, right down to the framed picture of Laura Palmer behind the bar and the red velvet-curtained washroom with the zig zag paint job," described Rob Mangelsdorf in the Westender.
“The restaurant is vegetarian, but we aim to make everything on [the] menu possible to be vegan, and the whole cocktail menu is vegan,” said Black Lodge owner Claire Wyrostok, who’s vegetarian herself, in 2019.
The menu features a wide selection of vegetarian eats from Totchos (tater tot nachos) to loaded sandwiches and hot dogs, along with lots of veggie pub grub and appies. Custom house cocktails include a vegan Caesar and lots of drinks inspired by David Lynch and TV's Twin Peaks.
While we don't know what is going into the soon-to-be-vacated space at 317 E Broadway, The Black Lodge has offered us a teaser: "[W]e are very happy to be handing over this space to another small, local and independent restaurant that we know will be an excellent contribution to this neighbourhood."
With files from Gail Johnson/Alchemist Magazine and Rob Mangelsdorf/Westender
