The last standing Gram Pancake Cafe in Kerrisdale has officially closed its doors, marking the end of the Japanese pancake brand’s presence in Canada.
It’s uncertain when exactly the location shut down, but it appeared to be within the last two weeks as the most recent Google Review was from mid November.
This closure follows the shutdown of three other Metro Vancouver outlets of the franchise that we reported in late October.
This means a complete withdrawal of Gram Pancake Cafe from the Canadian market.
Gram Pancake’s Rise and Fall
Gram Pancake, founded by Takeshi Takata in 2014, earned its fame for serving premium, soufflé-style pancakes that are exceptionally fluffy and light.
The brand witnessed phenomenal growth, with over 60 outlets in various countries, including its first venture in the United States, located in San Francisco.
The brand’s entrance into Canada started with much fanfare, opening its first location in Richmond’s Aberdeen Centre on January 25th 2020.
This launch attracted significant media attention and public excitement.
However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic soon after severely impacted the business, dampening the initial enthusiasm and slowing down operations.
Struggles and Closure
Despite efforts to expand within Metro Vancouver, with new branches in Kingsway, Amazing Brentwood, and Kerrisdale, Gram struggled to regain its initial momentum and allure.
The first sign of trouble was evident in June when a lease termination notice was posted on the Richmond outlet, revealing struggles with missed rent payments.
Allegations surfaced on our Instagram post of management regularly missing employee payments, with some former Richmond Gram employees claiming they were owed thousands of dollars.
Note: our research found that the Kerrisdale Gram had a different franchise owner than the other Gram Cafes
New Beginnings
In the wake of Gram Pancake Cafe’s exit, other brands are stepping in to fill the void.
The Richmond Aberdeen unit, previously occupied by Gram, will soon house the Japanese curry brand Garaku.
Meanwhile, the vacated Kerrisdale location is set to become a new outpost for the popular hot pot brand, Big Way.
The closure of Gram Pancake Cafe’s Canadian outlets is a significant development in the food and beverage industry, highlighting the challenges faced by international brands in expanding to new markets.
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