If you tried to visit Mojo Cantina Izakaya on Main Street this past month, you were likely met with a locked door and a lot of confusion.
Just one month after opening its doors, the Mexican-Japanese fusion spot has officially (and abruptly) shut down.
The closure comes as a shock to the neighbourhood, considering the concept only launched on October 5th.
It took over the cursed space previously occupied by El Gato Gab Gab at 2650 Main Street.
But the real story is how the closure went down.
According to recent Google reviews, the shutdown left diners stranded.
Multiple guests reported showing up for Saturday night reservations only to find the restaurant dark and empty.
One reviewer noted the frustration of the online system still accepting “credit card required reservations” even though the business had actually ceased operations.
The drama extends to the staff as well.
According to reports from Vancouver Is Awesome and Dished, the shutdown was chaotic internally.
An anonymous source alleged that employees received an email at 2 AM informing them that the business was done, giving them less than 24 hours’ notice.
There were also conflicting reports regarding payments.
While the anonymous source claimed some staff hadn’t been paid, the ownership group Boxset Collective stated that “all staff have been paid, many with severance.”
The restaurant’s Instagram account has since been deactivated, and Google now lists the business as “Permanently Closed.”
This location is becoming a revolving door for the Boxset Collective team.
Over the last few years, this single address has housed Novella Coffee, Vignette, Bar Susu (temporarily), El Gato Gab Gab, and finally Mojo.
The owners had previously framed Mojo as the first of many “rotating concepts” designed to keep the space evolving.
The space is currently listed for sale, leaving the future of the Main Street unit uncertain.
For now, the only thing certain is that the short-lived experiment of “Mojo” is over.
Mojo Cantina Izakaya now joins other recently closed Vancouver food spots like Coo Coo Coffee, Mapo Pancake House, and The Poor Italian.
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Address: 2650 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E6