Vancouver just lost another piece of its independent coffee scene, and this one is going to sting.
Matchstick Coffee has announced it is winding down operations, closing three of its four remaining locations this spring and eventually shutting down the last one too.
The news was shared on Instagram on February 13, with the team citing “a very challenging business environment” and saying they had explored “every possible avenue” before making the call.
The Yaletown location at 1328 Richards Street closes March 1.
Riley Park at 4807 Main Street closes March 15.
The original Fraser Street cafe at 639 E 15th Avenue, where it all started back in 2012, closes April 1.
The Davie Street location at 1305 Davie Street will stay open for now, but the announcement says the team is already “finalizing plans for its closure in the near future.”
According to our source, one of the cafe locations has already been snatched up.
Matchstick was founded in 2012 with a single cafe in the Fraserhood that quickly became a neighbourhood anchor.
It grew into one of Vancouver’s most recognized third-wave coffee names, known for small-batch roasting and in-house baked goods.
In 2020, the original founders departed following workplace abuse allegations.
Matchstick also acquired Cartems Donuts, the beloved Vancouver donut brand that had been around since 2011.
But Cartems ultimately closed permanently shortly after its acquisition on February 14, 2025, after 14 years.
The Chinatown cafe at 213 E Georgia Street had already closed in December 2023, a closure we covered at the time.
The team said they are committed to supporting staff with “fair notice and severance” and honoring commitments to landlords and suppliers.
If you have a Matchstick gift card, redeem it at any location before its closing date or at Davie Street until further notice.
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Address: Multiple locations (see closing dates above)