After four years of sitting vacant, the former home of West Restaurant finally has a new tenant moving in.
Saba Foods, a Yemeni restaurant currently operating at 509 Main St in Chinatown, has taken over 2881 Granville St and will relocate to the storied address in the spring.
West, revered for its modern Pacific Northwest cuisine, wrapped up its acclaimed run at the end of 2019. Through the ensuing pandemic years, the space languished, one of many commercial leases up for grabs in South Granville.
A recent peek inside the windows of the future Saba reveals a stripped-down interior with no suggestion of the prior occupant, which was a cherished fine-dining destination in Vancouver for nearly 20 years.
With much work ahead to renovate the space, a representative for Saba who confirmed the move with V.I.A. indicated they are aiming to be open by April 1 or sooner.
The move was prompted by customer demand for a new location and also offered Saba Foods a welcome opportunity to elevate its menu and ambiance.
The Main Street location's last day of operation will be Jan. 21, 2024, according to Saba's social media post of Jan. 13.
"A huge thanks to all our customers, team members, vendors and the Chinatown community for being part of our journey. We can't wait to serve you in our new place!" shared the restaurant.
Saba Foods aims to showcase the flavours of Yemen for Vancouver diners. The Middle Eastern restaurant's menu includes many popular Yemeni dishes, like haneeth (slow-roasted lamb or chicken) and ful (bean stew) on the savoury side, and kunafah (a layered spun pastry) for dessert.
Follow Saba Foods on Instagram @sabafoodsvancity.
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