The folks behind Vancouver go-to spots Bells and Whistles, Bufala, and Lucky Taco are cementing their pursuit of more casual ventures as the restaurant group preps Oh Carolina, a hybrid grocer-cafe concept on the city's east side.
The space is at 580 East 12th Avenue at the corner of (you guessed it, Carolina Street) situated in a mostly residential area east of Kingsway. The property was the Charles Grocery, which was briefly revived in 2019 as a cafe venue. There's even a 2016 song by a local band called "Charles Grocery" in tribute to the business.
Charles Grocery site at 580 E 12th Ave, Vancouver. By Google MapsThe new owner is Gooseneck Hospitality, which in 2020 transformed an old neighbourhood hang in Dunbar into a second outpost of its upscale sports bar concept Bells and Whistles.
Earlier this year, Gooseneck announced the permanent closure of its high-end "nose to tail" spot Wildebeest in Gastown, which had not swung open its doors in any capacity since the pandemic forced them shut in March 2020.
The former Wildebeest Instagram feed has been re-named Oh Carolina Cafe (@ohcarolinacafe), with a description reading: "The Instagram of artist formerly known as Wildebeest has become Gooseneck Hospitality’s newest venture! Café & Grocery Store."
Besides the name switcheroo and bio update, however, the IG account has not shared any images of or details about what lies in store for Oh Carolina. We'll update with more info as soon as possible.
