November 1st will be a bittersweet day for anyone who remembers when you could still order a pizza or hamburger from the comfort of your towel on Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach. One of Vancouver’s favourite beachside haunts, and arguably the best patio in the city, Malone’s in Kits is closing its doors and umbrellas for the last time on Saturday, November 1, 2008.
To mark the occasion and express thanks to the Kits community for supporting the restaurant for more than 20 years, Malone’s will be holding a private Halloween party on October 31st and then a final closing party on November 1st. Partial proceeds from the events will be donated to the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House.
Tickets for Kitsilano’s Best Halloween Party on October 31st are on sale now for $50 and include live DJ, costume contest with cash prizes and appetizers throughout the evening. Tickets for the Farewell night on November 1st are on sale now for $125 and include beverages, live DJ, Vegas Trip Give-away and appetizers throughout the evening. Tickets can be purchased at either Malone’s Kitsilano or Malone’s Downtown location.
A little Malone’s history after the jump…
Malone’s owner Sam Yehia first opened Sami’s Restaurant at the Cornwall Avenue location in 1987, before he opened Gastown’s equally famous The Cambie Pub. In the early days at Sami’s, Yehia pioneered the concept of beachside service by sending restaurant staff armed with walkie-talkies out to popular Kitsilano beach to take orders and deliver food to hungry sunbathers.
The novelty of that beachside delivery got Sami’s onto the 6 o’clock news, but unfortunately the restaurant also ran afoul of city inspectors and beachside service was soon halted. However, Yehia’s entrepreneurial enthusiasm won him the respect of neighbours and the public, who remained loyal customers as the restaurant went through a number of evolutions over the years.
The restaurant was briefly operated as a Senor Frog’s in 1990 to 1992 before rebranding as the Buena Vista, a tapas-style bar. In 1994, Yehia invited the founding partners of a sports bar, Trevor Magee and Reid Flemons, to install the Malone’s concept at the location, after which Yehia says, “We’ve never looked back.”
Yehia says that while Malone’s may be closing, he hopes to one day find another location in which to open a Malone’s on the West side. “I would like to thank all the patrons who have enjoyed their experiences at Malone’s in Kitsilano. I know so many people who met at Malone’s and went on to have families. There are no regrets, only fond memories, and certainly we look forward to seeing the friends, family and people we’ve known over the years back at Malone’s for one final cheer.”
