A long reign in Vancouver's brunch sector is coming to an end, as Slickity Jim's, the irreverent Main Street diner-inspired restaurant, has revealed they are closing permanently.
"A quarter of a century of serving Vancouver and it’s time to hang up the eggs for now," shares Slickity Jim's in its social media closing announcement.
Located at 3475 Main St, Slickity Jim's Chat N Chew was a neighbourhood fixture for hearty a.m. eats with a little edge and a sense of humour. The restaurant was known for rooting itself in art and music. “This restaurant is a big piece of art," Slickity Jim's owner Mike Zalman said in a 2014 interview. "If I didn’t have to charge people, I wouldn’t, but if I don’t have the money to practise my art...”
Dishes on the Slickity Jim's menu include things like the "Breakfast of Broken Dreams" (poached eggs with spinach, gorgonzola, and caramelized onions), the "Chez Fe" skillet (sunny side up eggs with braised short ribs, potatoes, and chimichurri), and an omelette called "A Woman in a Flowing Dress Kissing Her Lover" (with prosciutto, spinach, and asiago).
This was not the only Slicks in town for the restaurant's entire run; in 2015 they opened a sibling spot in Fairview that offered a slightly elevated twist on the OG menu. In late 2020, however, the "Chat & Choux" branch shuttered after five years.
"It’s been our humble privilege to serve you all and I want to say thank you for supporting us over the years," says Zalman in his farewell notice. "We have seen generations of regulars come through hallowed doors. The neighbourhood and the city [have] grown around us. The cost of doing business in this city hasn’t been easy but is only a small part of the puzzle on the decision to close up shop."
"The community that has been built around this restaurant is something I will always look back on with pride, the friends that have been made and bonds that have been formed in this strange little restaurant that started rather anonymously in the corners of the downtown East side," continues Zalman.
"It’s a tearful moment to say goodbye but it’s time to change and grow. So on to the next project, you just can’t stay a little duck forever."
Slickity Jim's last day of business will be Sunday, April 10.
