The White Spot location on West Georgia at Cardero is due for its long-anticipated date with the wrecking ball, and the restaurant confirms its doors will close for good on Nov. 28.
The property at 1616 West Georgia, which includes the adjacent vacant lot, sold for a whopping $245 million in 2017. Plans for redevelopment by Carnival International Holdings in partnership with Aspac are for a pair of 38-storey highrise buildings featuring a four-storey podium linking the towers. The property will have an anticipated 455 strata residential units altogether.
This April 2019 rendering shows the proposed development at Cardero and W Georgia. Vancouver Courier file imageThe building currently housing the White Spot dates back to 1979, according to BC Assessment.
In 1982, Shato Holdings, run by the Toigo family, purchased the White Spot. When they sold the W Georgia and Cardero location three years ago it was the region's largest land transaction of 2017.
Cathy Tostenson, Vice President Sales & Marketing for White Spot, provided V.I.A. with the following statement:
"We are saddened to advise that our Georgia and Cardero White Spot will close permanently on Saturday, November 28th. The Cardero property was sold in 2017, with the understanding that it would eventually be redeveloped. While we had hoped to continue to operate the restaurant as long as possible, the profound impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the area and the hospitality industry has led us to make the difficult decision to not renew the lease when it expires in December.
"We shared the news with employees this past September, and have been working with team members to place them at other locations within the company, and best support those who will be retiring or moving on.
"We have loved serving our Cardero guests — locals and visitors alike — and the decades of special Vancouver history this location has had the pleasure of being a part of.
"We look forward to serving our valued guests elsewhere within our family of restaurants."
