A cozy, casual East Vancouver spot known for its approachable plant-based Middle Eastern fare spent its seventh anniversary reflecting on its journey - and sharing the news it will close its doors at the end of the month.
Aleph Eatery, which is located at 1889 Powell St, opened at the start of 2018. The restaurant is the venture of husband-and-wife duo Haitham El Khatib and Fiona Hepher; they met in Dubai but settled in Hepher hometown of Vancouver, where professionally-trained chef El Khatib refined his skills at the Northwest Culinary Academy.
Though Aleph began offering an omnivore menu, it ultimately ditched the eggs and dairy and went fully vegan a few years ago.
"For seven incredible years, Aleph has been more than a restaurant. It’s been a place of connection, a celebration of flavours, and a shared journey with our community," Hepher and El Khatib shared on Instagram in the caption accompanying a video about the closure and the restaurant.
'The burden has become unsustainable, leaving us no choice but to close'
While owners are urging folks to come in for a final meal before Aleph closes its doors, they're also asking that fans consider supporting them through a GoFundMe campaign, which highlights the business' financial plight.
"While Aleph was a profitable operation, every penny we’ve earned has gone toward paying off the significant debts we incurred during the pandemic. The burden has become unsustainable, leaving us no choice but to close," the restaurant owners write on the crowdfunding platform page.
Aiming to raise $36,000, the Aleph team plans to use the funds to pay off pandemic debts, support two employees who are in Canada on visas who are applying for permanent residency, and provide the owners with some future stability.
Several restaurant changes on this same block of Powell Street
The particular block on which Aleph sits has seen significant shifts in the past year or so, starting with the fall 2023 launch of Andrea Gail (in the former Wild Thing space) at 1867 Powell St. Last year also saw the closure of Elephant in August; the Michelin Guide-endorsed spot at 1879 Powell St has been the pop-up/rotating chef concept Subject to Change (under the same ownership as Elephant) but is now getting roots as the forthcoming Nero Tondo.
The Pie Shoppe said farewell to its bakeshop-café at 1875 Powell St in September. That location is now Niwa, a modern Japanese-inspired restaurant co-owned by the Elephant/Subject to Change folks with former Ugly Dumpling chef/co-owner Darren Gee. And then Straight & Marrow, at 1869 Powell St, wrapped up its tenure near the end of December.
For its part, Aleph had been listed for sale at several points for at least the last three years.
In their parting messages, Aleph's operators are emphasizing gratitude.
"This isn’t just goodbye—it’s a thank you. Thank you for being part of our journey, for sharing your stories, and for making Aleph what it is," they write.
"Endings are also beginnings, and while this chapter closes, the spirit of Aleph will live on in all of us."
Aleph will close permanently after its last day on January 26.
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