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Vancouver seafood spot closing, owner opening new 'neighbourhood bar and lounge' concept

One final weekend of freshly-shucked fun before the transformation begins
Lindsay William-Ross
Lindsay William-Ross

The Vancouver branch of a popular Sunshine Coast haunt for drinks, oysters, and laid-back vibes will bring a two-and-a-half-year run to a close this weekend.

Smitty's Oyster House debuted in early 2022 at 3124 Main St, offering Mount Pleasant a taste of the Gibsons Landing restaurant's signature ambiance and eats. The venture, which was a fresh partnership between Vancouver restaurateur Matt Thompson and the original Smitty's, found a home in Thompson's former Five Point pub space.

Now Thompson is once again revamping the location, borrowing from another concept of his, which will launch shortly once Smitty's celebrates a final weekend of business.

Smitty's on Main will close permanently following service on Sunday, October 27. In the days ahead of the closure, diners can expect freshly-shucked merriment, including happy hour deals and an oyster-shucking competition. 

Once Smitty's takes its final bow, the space will evolve into Anthem Sound Lounge, which takes its cue from (and will feature) Thompson's pandemic-era venture Anthem Pizza. The new operation will be a "neighbourhood bar and lounge" with share plates and casual fare alongside cocktails and craft beer, with DJs and live music, too.

Anthem is set to soft open on Halloween, which is Thursday, October 31. A grand opening is planned for November 14.

Thompson has experienced a lot of personal and professional changes in the past couple of years, including undergoing a liver transplant and seeing the end of his concepts Cannibal Café and Bingo Taco/Alphabet City.

 “We’ve had a great run and I thank the team at the OG Smitty’s in Gibsons for being such fantastic partners during my recovery, but I’m looking forward to getting back to my roots as an operator and adding a new feel to this legendary space,” said Thompson in a press release. 

Once Anthem Sound Lounge debuts it will be open Thursday and Friday from 3 p.m. to late and Saturday and Sunday for brunch from 11 a.m. to late with daily Happy Hour features.

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