Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A Chilliwack restaurant has served its last meal and round of drinks at its location in the Eagle Landing shopping centre on Eagle Landing Parkway. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack restaurant closes

Chilliwack restaurant and bar closes as landlord issues termination notice

Dec 2, 2024 | 10:09 AM

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack restaurant and bar has served its last meal and round of drinks at its location in the Eagle Landing shopping centre.

According to two notices posted outside the restaurant in the past week, as well as an email of confirmation from its corporate communications, Original Joe’s has closed at 302-8249 Eagle Landing Parkway in Chilliwack.

“Hi, Mike. Thank you for reaching out to Original Joe’s. Unfortunately, this location is now permanently closed,” an Original Joe’s spokesperson named Emma in its Guest Experience Centre told Fraser Valley Today. “We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from our community over the years and wish the best to all of our valued guests.”

Original Joe’s bills itself as “Down to Earth and Down the Street” on its website. It has 33 locations in Alberta, 11 in British Columbia, three in Manitoba and four in Saskatchewan.

“Original Joe’s is a restaurant and bar, but there’s a little more to us than food specials and bar stools,” the franchise wrote on its website. “Back in 1998, ‘going out to eat’ usually meant one of two things—getting fast food or getting fancy. But why couldn’t there be a place that was simply comfortable and close to home? Where you could come as you are and enjoy a quality meal with the family, a craft brew after work, or a nice (halfprice) bottle of wine with friends? That’s us. Original Joe’s. We’re familiar and local.”

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One notice near the restaurant’s entrance stated the location was closed and apologized for the inconvenience to its customers.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A sign outside Original Joe’s states the restaurant has since closed.

A second notice with a headline of “Notice of Re-entry and Notice of Termination” was posted on a window within the patio enclosure. It contained language that said the tenant, Original Joe’s Management Group, had failed to pay minimum and additional rent as detailed in a notice of default letter dated November 6, 2024. Consequently, the landlord, Eagle Landing Development Limited Partnership, asserted its right to re-enter the premises and take possession of the facility and terminate the lessee pursuant to section 21 of the lease.

The legal notice also ordered the tenant, Original Joe’s, to deliver a vacant possession of the premises to the landlord immediately, and all equipment, trade fixtures and applicable property to be removed by no later than December 4, 2024. The tenant was ordered to contact Gulf Pacific Property Management Ltd. to arrange for the equipment removal by Dec. 4.

The Chilliwack restaurant and bar had received a 4.0 rating out of 5 stars among 700 reviews on Google.

A social media post from an online commenter in Chilliwack named Kayden Marko said employees were basically blindsided by the abrupt closure.

“As someone who was there when it happened, not a single person knew that it was coming, not even our regional kitchen manager,” the post from Kayden Marko said. “The owners weren’t paying rent for over three months. They had multiple chances to correct it and they chose not to, so everyone was laid off without any chance to look for work first.”

Marko said a bailiff was present at the building when the restaurant abruptly closed its doors last week.

“They had a bailiff waiting for us when we arrived and a locksmith, they took everyone’s keys, changed the locks and people still can’t get into the restaurant to get their stuff out of their lockers,” Marko said in his post, attributing the closure to ownership, not management staff. “Let me be blunt: management didn’t do a single thing wrong. Everyone there was in the dark, it was the owners that (expletive) everyone over. Management there was great. Obviously, there was issues because of new staff coming in, so people had to get trained up, so mistakes are being made. Now you have a whole staff of 20+ people without jobs, some of them being there for over five years or 10. It just shows that loyalty means nothing to people with a lot of money. It’s disgusting. I loved everyone there and I wish nothing but the best for all of them. To be laid off before Christmas when most of them have families is outrageous.”