It seems COVID-19 has claimed another victim in the Vancouver restaurant industry. The Holy Crab, the West End restaurant that recently celebrated their third anniversary serving up Louisiana-inspired seafood, announced May 12 they will be closing permanently on May 16.
In a media release, The Holy Crab says they have been "forced to close" their doors for good "due to the devastating financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic."
"I have put my heart and soul into this amazing restaurant over the last three years and it is truly heartbreaking to see this dream come to an end," says The Holy Crab co-owner and chef Henri William. "The economic impact of COVID-19 has been devastating for our small business. My landlord refuses to speak to us directly and is unwilling to provide any form of rent relief, and as such we simply can't afford to remain open."
An Indonesian import, The Holy Crab has been doing hands-on and spiced up seafood boils since their launch in February 2017. They expanded their menu to include Instagram-worthy dishes like a gooey lobster-enhanced grilled cheese the following year. In late 2019, The Holy Crab launched their Southern-tinged weekend brunch.
As the restaurant winds down their operations in Vancouver, The Holy Crab will be open for online orders with curbside pick-up on Wednesday, May 13, Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. They will be offering a 20 per cent discount on all seafood items during their final days.
"I am incredibly thankful to all of our staff for their hard work and dedication, especially during this difficult time. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to our valued customers who supported us over the years and thank them for giving us the opportunity to offer a fun and unique dining experience. I hope they will come back to visit us one more time this week before we say goodbye," added Henri.
The Holy Crab is located at 1588 Robson Street in Vancouver.
