Well-loved Vancouver restaurant Bishop's closing after 35 years
Bishop's closure speaks to challenges faced by restaurant industry as a whole, says owner
The quintessential Vancouver restaurant, Bishop's, is closing its doors this summer after more than three decades.
Nestled in the heart of Kitsilano, Bishop's is known for its West Coast vibe and farm-to-table meals. The owner, John Bishop, announced his plans to retire on Tuesday.
"It's with a heavy heart that I do this," said Bishop, 75.
Like many in Vancouver, he is finding himself pushed out.
"It gets harder and harder to pay one's rent, to meet your obligations as a tenant," he told Margaret Gallagher, guest host of CBC's On The Coast.
"I started to lose sleep over it which is the first time I've done so in 35 years so I thought maybe it's time."
Bishop says he is not the only one struggling.
"The industry as a whole is facing the same thing that I'm facing," he said.
"We don't really talk about it amongst ourselves but I think it's probably about time we did raise that topic more."
Bishop started his restaurant career as a young teen in Wales, U.K. where he filled creamer jugs and delivered breakfast trays as a 15-year-old.
He moved to Vancouver in the 1970s and opened his namesake restaurant in 1985 — a year before Vancouver exploded onto the international scene with Expo 86.
Bishop is best known for his focus on fresh, local food and farm-to-table ingredients and has written four cookbooks over his career.
He says he plans to finish working on his new cookbook and spend more time with his family in his retirement.
The restaurant is slated to close on Aug. 1, 2020.
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