One of Vancouver's many familiar major restaurant chains will soon have one fewer outpost in the city, as Moxies announced Monday (Sept. 9) that it will close the Davie Street location permanently early next month.
The Davie Street Moxies is located inside the Sandman Suites hotel at 1160 Davie St, and has long been a fixture in the Davie Village community.
“While it’s always difficult to close the doors, we remain proud of our team's role in creating memorable experiences within the community,” said Joanne Forrester, President, and Chief Operating Officer of Moxies in a media release.
“This closure is not an end but a step toward our continued evolution, allowing us to focus on future growth and opportunities. We are deeply grateful for the loyalty and support of our guests and the dedication of our team. Together, we’ve built something exceptional and carry that spirit into our next chapter.”
Launched in Calgary in 1986, Moxies soon expanded to become a familiar player in the Canadian "family restaurant" scene. In the early 2000s, the chain revamped and took on a more "premium casual" vibe. While Moxies indicated in its announcement the Davie Street closure comes after "over 20 years," it did not specify when the location first opened.
In 2022, the restaurant chain (which is part of the same group that owns and operates Denny's in Canada, along with The Sandman Hotel and even the posh Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar) announced it was undergoing a major refresh - a glow-up of sorts to bring Moxies into a new era. The group, Northland Properties, also recently took on partial ownership of Vancouver's one Michelin-starred Published on Main.
In Vancouver, the Moxies location at 180 W Georgia St underwent a significant refresh from top to bottom, re-emerging in June 2023.
The Downtown Vancouver Moxies is one of the brand's prototype B.C. outposts, positioned to lead the way as the restaurant chain enters its next chapter.
One part of the brand's goals has been to grow in the U.S., mirroring the ambitions of other Canadian premium casual restaurant chains like Earls and Joey.
For its part, the Davie Street Moxies underwent a small renovation a few years ago, well ahead of the chain's current vision for growth.
Northland Properties has not shared any plans for what will become of the former Moxies space at the Sandman on Davie.
When Moxies on Davie closes next month, the brand will have just three Metro Vancouver locations, with restaurants in Langley and Richmond (its test kitchen), in addition to the West Georgia flagship.
"We hope that everyone will have the chance to join us for one last time before we finish our final service on Monday, October 7," shared Forrester.
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