North Vancouver's Tomahawk Restaurant, a landmark diner and museum of Indigenous art, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Owner Chuck Chamberlain, who took over in the 1970s, says the restaurant has served three generations of families, with its oldest customers aged 94 and 98. The Tomahawk has survived the Depression, two world wars, and COVID, maintaining its status as a community staple.
From Coffee Shop to Drive-In Icon
The Tomahawk began as a coffee shop opened by Chuck's father, Charles “Chick” Chamberlain, in Heywood Park in the early 1920s. In 1926, Chick opened the Tomahawk Barbecue on Marine Drive, North Vancouver's first drive-in restaurant. In 1960, it moved to its current location on Phillip Avenue. Despite having no restaurant experience, Chick started with just three menu items: chicken, beef, and pork sandwiches.
“The customers built the restaurant, and the restaurant built the customers,” Chamberlain said. The menu grew organically and now features hearty diner fare like burgers, grilled cheese, and roast beef dinners, with several items named after Indigenous leaders such as Joe Capilano, Simon Baker, and August Jack.
A Collection of Indigenous Art
The Tomahawk is also known for its extensive collection of Indigenous art, including wood carvings, masks, totem poles, and woven cedar baskets. During the Depression, Chick traded food for carvings, building strong bonds with the Indigenous community. “None of the pieces were bought with the intention of selling them,” Chamberlain explained. The collection remains a key attraction.
Famous Faces and Cultural Impact
Notable figures associated with the restaurant include Bryan Adams, who washed dishes there in the 1970s, and celebrity chef Guy Fieri, who featured the Tomahawk on his show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in 2011. Local icon Nardwuar the Human Serviette described the legendary Skookum Chief Burger as “three meals in one.”
Chamberlain noted that social media now drives new customers: “We get a lot of new customers because social media tells them to. Then they come here, fall in love with the place and become regular customers.”
Centennial Celebration and Future
For the official anniversary on June 26, Chamberlain planned to charge only $10 for five menu items. He reflected on the milestone: “It’s just a small restaurant that survived 100 years, which is pretty well impossible in this business with the same family ownership. It’s just another day, if you will — but a good day.”
The restaurant seats 64 comfortably, with additional patio seating. Despite industry trends and economic challenges, Chamberlain credits loyal customers for the Tomahawk's longevity. “If it wasn’t for our long-term customers, I don’t know where we’d be today,” he said.
