Vancouver’s ‘nerdiest bar’ Storm Crow Alehouse closing mid-January
Posted January 3, 2022 4:30 pm.
Last Updated January 4, 2022 2:20 pm.
Dig into your last Dungeon Burger and roll a D20 for your final random shot because Vancouver’s Storm Crow Alehouse is shutting its doors this month.
The self-proclaimed nerdiest bar in Vancouver will shutter on Jan. 16, after suffering a critical hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. It coped with pandemic restrictions, supply chain issues, and staff shortages, as well as watched traffic dwindle during the ongoing Broadway Subway construction.
“What we always wanted with the Storm Crow was to be a space where people felt like they could belong, because so many of us spent so long in our lives feeling like we didn’t belong anywhere,” chief marketing officer Jessica Langer said. “Storm Crow was somewhere both those of us who work for the Storm Crow and those of us who came to the Storm Crow where we felt like we could be ourselves, and, not only are we sad to lose that for ourselves were more than that we’re sad to lose that for the community.”
We have a sad announcement to make. Please read. Then give us a hug. Then go bid on some of the cool memorabilia we’re auctioning at https://t.co/zpzypekXhM, with proceeds going to our staff.
We love you, #Vancouver. Thank you for a great run. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/OTx6TAjGUa
— Storm Crow Alehouse (@crowalehouse) January 3, 2022
However, the company isn’t pointing fingers.
“Those of us who watch Marvel movies and read a lot of fantasy and science fiction, we’re used to the battle of good versus evil,” Langer said. “This is one of those situations where there is no bad guy, everybody did their best. I think the government did their best to provide supports and the City is doing their best to make the city transitable and we’re doing our best to run a business and everybody’s doing their best to make it through the pandemic.”
The Alehouse will remain open from Wednesday to Sunday, however seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
Storm Crow is also hosting an online silent auction of some of the location’s memorabilia, with QR codes set up at the restaurant. All the funds will go towards the staff, Langer said.
The chain’s original location on Commercial Drive, the Storm Crow Tavern, closed in April 2020 during some of the first rounds of pandemic-related restrictions. It opened in 2012 and was followed by the Alehouse in 2015. It’s Toronto location, Storm Crow Manor, opened in 2018 and will continue serving guests as the sole location still in operation.
Related: Popular Vancouver gaming & sci-fi-themed bar to shut down indefinitely
Langer isn’t ruling out a return for the company in the future, however it may not be the same style of pub.
“Thank you for making the last bunch of years, so wonderful. Thank you for being part of our story,” she said. “Sometimes an ending means an opportunity for another beginning. So I’m sure we’ll be back in some form, some time. But mostly thank you. There would be no alehouse without everybody who supported it and everybody who came through our doors. We’re so grateful to have had you as our guests, and we hope that we won’t be strangers.”
