Another fixture on Vancouver’s shrinking bar scene is closing its doors for good.
Shark Club is giving up its lease and will bid adieu to its patrons at the end of April.
For years, hockey and football fans have aggregated at the iconic sports bar to cheer on the home teams.
It opened its doors two decades ago and has earned a dedicated customer base.
“It will be sad to see it go,” says longtime patron Matt Woodall, “It’s a pretty good establishment in Vancouver.”
“It is just sad. To see the people and the staff. They are all friendly. It is a mainstay in Downtown Vancouver,” lamented another patron.
The Shark Club’s owner told Global News last year’s NHL’s lockout was hard on business.
The lease expires next month, and they decided not to re-new, even though they aren’t ruling out the possibility it could re-open in the future.
BC Restaurant & Foodservices Association says the way Vancouver Canucks are playing this year did not help the situation, with bar sales down about three per cent across the province this year.
“What we are seeing this year is an almost apathetic type of audience that just doesn’t know where this hockey team is going, and as the result they don’t’ go out,” says Ian Tostenson with the association. “That has a huge effect on bars, restaurants and hotels.”
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