A take-out order is handed to a delivery driver at one of MeeT's Vancouver-area locations. The vegan chain is expanding to Vancouver Island, and plans to open an eatery at the former location of Boston Pizza's which shuttered on Blanshard Street at Hillside Avenue earlier this year. MeeT
Vancouver's 'MeeT' vegan restaurant chain to open in former Boston Pizza space on Blanshard
Mike Kozakowski, Citified.ca
Published May 9, 2022
Following a tumultuous two years brought on by COVID-19 and pandemic-related restrictions on food service operations, the Capital's dining industry is showing signs of a rebound as for lease signs at vacated spaces turn into leased-up digs.
This year's closure of Boston Pizza's Victoria location on Blanshard Street at Hillside Avenue which sent shockwaves across the region due to the company's long-established presence and strong marketing resources, has made room for the first Island location of MeeT, a Vancouver-based vegan chain of eateries.
MeeT specializes in vegan-friendly vegetable dishes, and currently operates three locations in Vancouver along the city's Main Street corridor, in Gastown and in Yaletown. The Victoria location will open later this year.
Founded in 2014, the chain's operators Linda Antony, Ivo Staiano and Jason Antony say the concept "intends to show people that comfort food that connects us and nourishes us can be veggie, can be made from scratch, can be delicious and can be affordable," according to a statement on the company's website.
Jeff Lougheed of commercial real-estate brokerage Cushman Wakefield, the firm tasked with leasing the premises, confirmed multiple parties expressed interest in the space once it had been vacated.
The City of Victoria’s sole Boston Pizza franchise closed in January after decades in business.
“It is with heavy hearts that today, after 35 years of operations, we close our doors permanently,” read a statement dated January 9th from owner and operator Jeremy Dewey.
“We have tried to navigate through every wave of this global pandemic, Public Health Orders, staff shortages, and overall increase in the cost of living, with no success,” the statement continued, ending with: “Thank you, Victoria, for 35 years. Be safe.”
Boston Pizza locations continue to operate in Saanich and Langford. C
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