On Jan. 24, Kitsilano taco joint Cantina Pana shocked fans with the announcement of their immediate closure.
Owners of the casual SoCal-style Mexican spot - a sibling to Corduroy and Corduroy Pie - seemed to blame the City of Vancouver and the red tape of obtaining a liquor licence for the sudden shutter.
"Our business is nearly bankrupt and it is with great sadness that we have to close until the City of Vancouver grants us a liquor license," lamented the restaurant on their Facebook and Instagram feeds.
However, the tides have turned in favour of Cantina Pana, and the restaurant has just revealed the city couldn't help but take note in the aftermath of the media coverage about the restaurant's plight, and they are on track to re-open soon.
Here's their announcement:
"Our community has spoken and the City of Vancouver had no choice but to listen. After an an exhausting amount of time and effort spent working 'by the books,' we had no choice but to close our doors. ✊
Luckily for us, our community, the media, residents and workers of Kitsilano (and beyond) voiced their opinions loud enough for City Hall to hear. 👬👭👫👨👨👧👧👨👩👦👩👩👧👦
We are happy to report that we now have our liquor license and will be reopening our doors to the public on Wednesday, February 12th at 11:30am."
Pana, by the way, means "corduroy" in Spanish, but is also a slang term for "buddy" - the former a clear nod to their sibling eateries, and the latter the core of the friendly vibes and style of the laid back spot.
Their menu focuses on tacos, burritos, and bowls, as well as a brunch program that kicked off late last year. In addition to offering seating for about 20, Cantina Pana offers a take-out window and delivery through popular local services.
Cantina Pana is located at 1941 Cornwall Ave in Vancouver.
