Victoria’s former Boston Pizza won’t sit vacant for much longer as a BC-based vegan restaurant chain eyes the space for its first Vancouver Island location.
Already established on the Mainland, MeeT Restaurants is ready to open its fourth venue in BC’s capital and introduce its plant-based menu to the region.
“MeeT intends to show people that comfort food that connects us and nourishes us can be veggie, can be made from scratch, can be delicious and can be affordable,” states a post on EatMeeT.ca.
According to the restaurant’s owner, management plans to open MeeT on Blanshard, located at 797 Hillside Avenue, later this summer.
That’s where Victoria’s Boston Pizza operated for decades before closing permanently earlier this year, leaving only two franchises to remain locally in Saanich and Langford.
“It is with heavy hearts that today, after 35 years of operations, we close our doors permanently,” read a January 9th closure notice.
Owner and operator Jeremy Dewey said the COVID-19 pandemic, public health orders, staff shortages and an overall increase in the cost of living were to blame.
“Thank you, Victoria, for 35 years. Be safe,” Dewey added in the notice.
MeeT is currently hiring for various positions in Victoria, including general manager and assistant general manager, as well as kitchen manager and assistant kitchen manager.
“We… strive to be an extraordinary employer, and look for ways daily to make MeeT a place that our staff can look forward to coming to work excited, and with a purpose,” wrote MeeT on its website.
The chain, founded in 2014 by restauranteurs Linda Antony, Ivo Staiano and Jason Antony, already has three locations in Vancouver along Main Street and in the city’s Gastown and Yaletown neighbourhoods.
“Our mission is to help transition the mainstream to eating more plant-based foods in a friendly, accepting and engaging venue,” the company added.
