Bert’s Restaurant closing its doors

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – An iconic diner on Vancouver’s Main Street is closing its doors after more than six decades of serving tasty, simple meals.  Bert’s Restaurant will shut down next Saturday after opening its doors in 1948.

The maroon-coloured eatery has kept it simple on Main and 13 Ave. for 63 years, but it’s now surrounded by new restaurants and shops on a street that has gentrified and turned trendy.

Owner Jerry DeKova says rising property taxes, wages, the Harmonized Sales Tax and a tough economy mean it’s time to say goodbye.  “We just sort of cater to the blue collar workers, just all sorts of people, really.  So, we tried to keep it as is for as long as possible.”

DeKova has owned the diner for five years but has been eating there a lot longer.

“I’ve been coming here for 40 years.  I knew the owners and I knew the kids.  They don’t want any part of it, so someone had to keep the tradition going, but unfortunately times have changed and it’s just not feasible anymore.”

He thinks the new owner is flipping it into a bar and grill.  “Well, it’s sad, of course, because a lot of people have been coming here for quite a long,” says DeKova.  It’s like a second home to a lot of people, but they understand, I guess.”