There’s another change in the Kitsilano area.
Darby’s, the Kitsilano institution that’s been part of the corner of West 4th and MacDonald for 45 years, shared a video this past week showing the demolition of its longtime home.
The post, shared on February 27, didn’t hold back.
“We said goodbye to a building that has been home to Darby’s for 45 incredible years,” it read.
The pub itself closed its doors back on November 1, and the liquor store relocated to a temporary space at 2918 West 4th Avenue shortly after.
But seeing the actual building disappear is a different kind of moment.
If you’ve spent any time in Kitsilano, you probably know this corner.
Darby’s was one of the first pubs in the neighbourhood, founded in 1981 by Terry and named after his sheepdog, Darby.
It was known for its rooftop patio with North Shore mountain views, 40 craft beer taps, and the kind of low-key neighbourhood energy that’s hard to replicate.
Terry passed away in 2016, but the business carried on for nearly another decade before the redevelopment came knocking.
The announcement post was full of people sharing memories of the pub and the corner it occupied.
Darby’s wasn’t the only one displaced from that block.
Chewies Biscuit Co., the fried chicken and biscuit spot we covered back in November, closed after a seven-year run on the same stretch.
Tayybeh, the beloved Syrian restaurant next door, was also forced out and has since relocated to a bigger space along West Broadway.
The site is being replaced by a six-storey mixed-use building called Darby’s Corner, a joint project between Hungerford Properties and Lightheart Properties.
The good news is the liquor store is confirmed to return to the new building once construction wraps up, expected sometime in late 2027.
“This is not the end,” the post said. “It’s a new chapter.”
For now, the temporary liquor store at 2918 West 4th is still open and serving the neighbourhood.
But the pub and that rooftop patio with the mountain views are gone for good.
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Address: 2001 MacDonald St, Vancouver, BC (original location, now demolished)