A longstanding Japanese bistro and sake bar is wrapping up their 10-year tenure on Vancouver's storied Granville Strip. ShuRaku will close for good after their last day of service on September 29, 2018.
ShuRaku has been around since 2008, but that was actually a reboot of the owner's original concept, Kitto Japanese House, which opened an impressive 18 years prior in 1990 in that spot and was a favourite for its affordable, approachable fare.
ShuRaku Sake Bar & Bistro/Facebook
Located at 833 Granville on a bustling block between Robson and Smithe, ShuRaku has enjoyed its long run serving up an array of sake and izakaya-style Japanese fare, including sushi and sashimi, noodles, and meat and seafood dishes designed to share.
The restaurant says staffing and wages have made it impossible to stay open. In their farewell message sent via e-mail, owner Iori Kataoka explains:
"Unfortunately, after many years as an industry leader, we began to experience an extreme shortage of staff starting last year. Although we worked diligently to keep this family business alive, new immigration policies and cost-of-living increases among our staff have only worsened the situation."
ShuRaku remains grateful to their clientele for seeing them though their years in business, and are urging fans to seek out their sister restaurant, Yuwa (2775 West 16th Avenue) on Vancouver’s West Side.
