Another chapter is ending in the story of the Vancouver-based White Spot family restaurant chain, as the company prepares to close the doors for good at one of its longstanding locations.
The White Spot at 1126 SE Marine Drive, near Knight Street, will close down permanently on April 10, 2021.
The property has been sold and is slated for redevelopment; a new White Spot is not in the works for the location.
Not zoned for large full-service restaurant
"The area is not zoned for a Full Service restaurant of this size, and ours has only been able to continue to operate through a grandfathering arrangement," explains Cathy Tostenson, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for White Spot Limited. "Over the years, we have tried to find a development opportunity for this site and aging facility that could accommodate maintaining and renovating the restaurant. Unfortunately, we were unable to do so."
"Accelerated by the impact of COVID-19 and most recently amplified by an extensive and disruptive road work project on Marine Drive, a decision was made to move forward with redevelopment," adds Tostenson.
The structure at 1126 SE Marine Drive was built in 1958, and long served as White Spot's head offices. However, not too long ago the company moved around the corner to new corporate facilities on Sherbrooke Street.
This particular White Spot location is also one of 10 remaining in Metro Vancouver to offer car hop service - though the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has put that style of dining in park.
Tostenson remarks that the car hop was one of the special features of this White Spot.
"We have enjoyed serving our South East Marine Drive guests, the uniqueness of the drive-in at this location, and being a part of the history of this changing neighbourhood."
Another significant closure for White Spot in Vancouver
The closure of this White Spot comes just a couple of months after the restaurant shuttered its decades-old location at Georgia and Cardero. That land was sold in a pricey deal and will be redeveloped (without a White Spot). As in that closure, workers at the SE Marine Drive White Spot have known the end was near for their location.
"The employees have been aware for some time of the impending closure, and received confirmation in January this year," explains Tostenson. "We will be working with team members to place them or to best support those who will be retiring or moving on."
There, of course, remain several locations of White Spot in Vancouver, as well as across B.C. and in Alberta.
"We look forward to serving our valued guests elsewhere within our family of restaurants," adds Tostenson.
