For Ron MacGillivray, a veteran of British Columbia's restaurant scene with three decades of experience, the current economic climate feels less like business and more like a brutal fight. The co-owner of Vancouver's Fable Diner & Bar describes a relentless struggle to stay afloat.
A Veteran's Struggle: Selling Homes and Restaurants
MacGillivray, who co-founded the Michelin Guide-recognized Fable Kitchen in Kitsilano in 2012, has been forced to take drastic measures. After selling his house post-pandemic to fund his operations, he has now put two of his restaurants up for sale. This includes the downtown Fable Diner & Bar and the Main and Broadway location, which saw a staggering 45 per cent drop in visits over three years, partly due to ongoing Broadway subway construction.
"I feel like I've gone nine rounds and been knocked down every round," he confessed in a January 2026 interview. "I've been pummeled, and I don't know how I'm going to make it." He starkly added, "This is the worst stretch I've ever seen. It's not coming back around."
An Industry-Wide Malaise with Deep Roots
MacGillivray is not alone in his dire assessment. Several prominent B.C. chefs and restaurateurs report that this downturn feels fundamentally different and more severe than the 2008 financial crisis or even the COVID-19 pandemic. They warn it may signal broader economic trouble ahead.
Robert Belcham, a chef and consultant for the Chefs' Table Society of B.C., explained the direct link between public sentiment and restaurant viability. "Our success is really based on the public's perception of how they're doing," Belcham said. "So if they feel like the economy isn't doing OK, they won't spend money at a restaurant."
In Metro Vancouver, this dynamic is intensified by the region's severe affordability crisis. Disposable income is being swallowed by housing costs, leaving little for dining out. Restaurants, which traditionally operate on razor-thin margins, have no buffer when customer traffic declines.
A Growing List of Casualties
The proof of the crisis is visible on shuttered storefronts across the region. A wave of closures has swept through established venues, highlighting the sector's fragility. The list of recent casualties is long and telling:
- Goldilocks Bake Shop on Main Street, after 18 years.
- Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar's West Broadway location.
- Floata Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown, closed abruptly after 30 years when the city terminated its lease in October.
- Poor Italian Ristorante, which served its last meal in mid-December after 16 years.
- Other notable closures include Zefferelli's Spaghetti Joint on Robson, Ramen One on West Broadway, and Pizzeria Farina on Main.
For industry leaders like MacGillivray, the personal and professional toll is immense. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone," he said, summarizing a sentiment echoing through British Columbia's hospitality sector as it braces for what many fear is just the beginning of a prolonged economic slowdown.
