It looks like the end of an era for another longtime Metro Vancouver restaurant.
A local on Chinese social media spotted a closure notice at Matsuzushi in Port Moody, the cozy Japanese eatery that has been run by an elderly husband-and-wife duo for decades.
According to the message, Matsuzushi will officially close at the end of this year, though the restaurant will be taking a short break from September 29 to October 29 before serving its final few months.
For those unfamiliar, Matsuzushi has a long history in the region.
Chef Hataguchi, who has been making sushi since 1962, worked in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya before moving to Vancouver and opening the first Matsuzushi in 2001.
Originally located along North Road, the restaurant relocated to Port Moody in 2016, where it has quietly served loyal customers ever since.
The restaurant earned a reputation for fresh sushi and an authentic experience.
Fans especially loved the omakase, which currently goes for $50 and includes 11 pieces of sushi, miso soup, and a handroll.
Longtime customers might remember when it was just $25 back in 2017.
While this wasnโt the polished, high-end omakase experience youโd find at downtown Vancouver sushi counters, it was the kind of neighbourhood spot that kept people coming back.
Everything was done by just the two of them.
Chef Hataguchi carefully handled every piece of sushi at the counter while his wife ran the front of house and the kitchen, making tempura, soups, and sides.
Service would be slow at times with only two people managing everything, but regulars cherished the warmth and authenticity of the experience.
In their closure note, the couple thanked customers for their support over the years, saying that sharing a little piece of Japan with the community had been an incredible journey.
They wrote, โFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this journey.โ
With Matsuzushiโs upcoming closure, Port Moody and Metro Vancouver will lose yet another longtime food spot this year, joining names like Pizzeria Farina, Penang Bistro, and Kibune Sushi Restaurant.
For those who loved its homestyle omakase, there are only a few months left to say goodbye.
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Address: 3130 St Johns Stย #4, Port Moody, BC