Photo credits: Avo House

Viral Downtown Vancouver Family-Run Japanese Restaurant Shuts Down After 2 Years

Vancouver’s food scene is constantly evolving, and while new spots continue to spring up, some beloved restaurants are saying goodbye.

This time, it’s Avo House, a family-run sushi spot in the West End, which has permanently closed its doors.

Opening back in 2022, Avo House gained attention in 2023 after the owner’s daughter posted a TikTok about the restaurant’s struggles that eventually amassed over 100,000 views.

The video brought in curious customers, and for a time, the cozy sushi joint thrived with a 4.7-star rating on Google, praised for its fresh sushi, reasonable prices, and welcoming service.

@anniedayoon support local ✌🏻#vancouver #vancouverfoodie #vancouversushi #yvreats ♬ original sound – annie 🍊

However, despite its viral hit and glowing reviews, it seems the challenges of operating on Robson Street—with its high rent and lower foot traffic in recent years—proved too much to sustain the business long-term.

A notice on the restaurant’s doors announced their closure on September 15th, thanking customers for their support over the last two years.

A source shared with Noms Magazine that several West End businesses have struggled in the year, particularly as the economy has become more difficult and foot traffic has declined.

While Avo House may be gone, it appears the space won’t remain empty for long, as the source shared that a Chinese restaurant is reportedly set to take over the unit.

As always, new ventures continue to fill in the gaps left by closures.

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: 1509 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C3

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