A Japanese grocery concept that was supposed to open in downtown Vancouver last fall is finally ready to launch.
Aburi Market Downtown will officially open on Monday, March 3, making it the third location for the premium Japanese grocery concept after its existing shops in Yaletown and West Vancouver.
It takes over the previous Meinhardt Pacific Centre corner unit.
The opening was originally announced for fall 2025 but was pushed back. It now has a confirmed date.
For those unfamiliar, Aburi Market is the grocery arm of Aburi Restaurants Canada, the group behind Michelin-recommended Miku, Minami, and Michelin-starred Aburi Hana.
The concept started during the pandemic when the team launched Aburi-To-Go out of Minami’s former private room in Yaletown.
It has since grown into a full grocery brand with two standalone locations.
The 3,200 sq.ft downtown space will carry grab-and-go sushi bentos, prepared foods, Japanese specialty snacks, signature platters, exclusive imported goods from Japan, and the brand’s Iwate A5 Wagyu.
The market also stocks finish-at-home meal kits, Japanese desserts, exclusive cooking sauces, and lifestyle products from tableware to apparel.
It will house the largest kitchen of any Aburi Market location, which will allow the team to produce more ready-to-eat items than the other stores.
New to this location is Pan と Pan, a bakery concept that reimagines the Japanese convenience store bread experience into a premium, pre-packaged offering.
The recipes were developed by WA-BAGEL head baker Yukiko Iikura.
At launch, the bakery will start with Melon Pan, a Japanese sweet bread with a cookie crust, with more items planned.
“Our Pan と Pan Bakery by Aburi line is designed for a modern lifestyle, where our bread offerings aim to offer the warmth of traditional Japanese baking with a stylish, kawaii twist,” said Seigo Nakamura, founder and CEO of Aburi Restaurants Canada.
The space features warm, light wood tones and soft ambient lighting.
Signature wall prints by long-time Japanese artist collaborator Hideki Kimura continue the brand’s visual identity from the other locations.
Nakamura said the downtown location was designed with city life in mind, with an emphasis on convenience and proximity to major transit routes.
To celebrate the opening, the first 100 guests on March 3 will receive a $10 voucher and tote bag.
At launch, the store will be open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Aburi Market Downtown joins a growing list of new food spots that have recently opened in the downtown core, including Dante at Bentall Centre, Peace and Culture, and Kam Wai Legacy.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: #101-609 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC