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Iconic Chinatown Restaurant Shutters After Decades of Service
31 Oct
Summary
- Floata Seafood Restaurant, a large seafood restaurant in Vancouver's Chinatown, has closed
- The city posted a lease termination notice on the restaurant's door
- The restaurant was known for hosting large banquets and had up to 1,000 seats
In a significant development for Vancouver's Chinatown, the iconic Floata Seafood Restaurant has closed its doors. The city posted a lease termination notice on the restaurant's door on October 24, 2025, indicating that the establishment's lease had expired on September 30 and the tenant had failed to provide a clear plan for future operations.
The Floata Seafood Restaurant was a long-standing fixture in the community, known for its large open spaces that could accommodate up to 1,000 guests for banquets and other events. The closure of this establishment has left a void in the city's culinary landscape, as it was a hub for Lunar New Year celebrations and other major community gatherings.
According to Vancouver Councilor Pete Fry, the Floata was "quite an anchor" for Chinatown, with the councilor himself attending dozens of banquets at the restaurant over the years. The closure of this establishment is expected to pose a challenge for the city in hosting large-scale events in the future.
The city has stated that it plans to lease the space to a new tenant and is currently in discussions with "a number of potential operators." However, the process of finding a suitable replacement and undertaking necessary tenant improvements is likely to result in a lull in activity at the site.
