Star Chefs to Launch New Concept Restaurant on Granville Island

On behalf of our client, CMCH-Granville Island, today we released some exciting news for the island:

Angus An, Robert Belcham, Hamid Salimian and Joël Watanabe will team up to open Popina Canteen – a gourmet counter-service restaurant housed in repurposed shipping containers

VANCOUVER, March 14, 2018 – Popina Canteen, a gourmet counter-service restaurant housed in repurposed shipping containers, will be opening this summer on Granville Island. The concept is a collaboration among four of Vancouver’s most renowned chefs – Angus An, Robert Belcham, Hamid Salimian and Joël Watanabe.

“We have been playing with the idea of a collaboration project for years,” says Angus An, co-founder of Popina Canteen. “Popina Canteen is a project that distils our years of fine dining experience into something that is casual and fun. To be able to share and launch this concept on Granville Island, an iconic Vancouver landmark, is a dream come true”.

The addition of this new restaurant is one of a number of initiatives that are being implemented as part of the Granville Island 2040: Bridging Past & Future report recommendations. The key strategies of the report include expanding the Public Market and transforming the area around it into a Market District, as well as improving access to the island, embracing arts and innovation, and enhancing the public realm.

“We are thrilled to welcome Popina Canteen to Granville Island. This innovative concept is the ideal way to move forward with our vision for an expanded Market District on the island,” says Lisa Ono, Manager, Public Affairs & Programming for CMHC-Granville Island. “During our recent Granville Island 2040 public consultation and planning process, there was strong demand from both locals and visitors for more varied and creative food offerings on the island”.

Popina Canteen will be located on the northwest side of the Public Market. The kitchen and takeaway counters will be housed in repurposed shipping containers while newly created outdoor public seating will offer great views of False Creek and the downtown core.

An official opening date will be announced in late spring.