The Foundation, iconic Vancouver vegetarian restaurant, to close
The Foundation, an iconic Vancouver restaurant beloved by vegetarians, is shutting down next month — and its owners are blaming the rising cost of renting in the city.
The eatery, famous for its veggie nachos, will close on Feb. 26. It's been a mainstay on Main Street for nearly 15 years.
Co-owner Mark Thomson says The Foundation might be famous for nachos, but it was also one of the first to serve quinoa before it became trendy.
When the restaurant first opened in 2002, there were only a handful of other eateries on Main Street. Thomson said rent was about $1,500 a month.
Since then, the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood has changed and there's been an explosion of other eateries. Rental rates went up and up.
By last year, Thomson said he was paying $5,000 a month for the space — although he notes the restaurant expanded and doubled in size.
Thomson and his co-owner, Amy Woods, looked at signing a new lease to keep their property this year.
They said rental rates would've "probably" been around the $8,000 mark.
"It just ends up being a lot of money for a casual business," Thomson said. "We've put everything personally into the restaurant ... but those kinds of costs are associated with people with more money."
Woods also said the restaurant can't keep passing costs on to the consumer because "we can't charge $17 for rice and beans."
It leaves her wondering how other restaurateurs in the city are coping.
"It started to weigh on us," she said. "We really became uncomfortable with asking more."
Both owners say they are proud of the restaurant but saddened to close.
Thomson also said there is a demolition clause placed on their building.
"It's been a ticking time bomb for me, because I've put my heart and soul into this and I can't stand thinking about a wrecking ball smashing into it."
With files from Lien Yeung and Deborah Goble
