Update Aug. 3, 2023:
One of Vancouver's favourite cocktail bars has delayed its closing, temporarily.
"You asked for 'one more round,' we’ve negotiated one more week," reads a new Instagram post from The Diamond.
Following a busy final two weeks, in which the bar was jam-packed, The Diamond has managed to push its last call to August 6 when the sale of the building will be made final.
The extension is meant to give people who haven't had a chance to stop by the opportunity to do so, one last time.
Since it's expected to be another busy week, the bar says that reservations are highly recommended.
Original story Jul. 14, 2023:
In a heartfelt and reflective Instagram post, The Diamond one of Vancouver's most well-loved cocktail bars announced that it is closing.
"After 14 years of last calls, we've finally reached ours," reads the post.
The news comes as a shock to many locals and fans of the establishment having just celebrated its anniversary.
"June 24th, 2009, the first customers walked up this staircase into our cocktail treehouse, that wasn’t entirely “legal” yet, but we made it work," said the anniversary post just a few short weeks ago. In it, they describe themselves as "a true neighbourhood bar."
Indeed, residents flocked to the comment section to share how sad they were to see The Diamond go calling it "an institution here in Van" and the "best place in the city."
The Diamond opened in one of Vancouver's most historic still-standing buildings that was home to the city's first speakeasy. A legacy that The Diamond team says they treated with "great intention and genuine reverence."
The former owner of the building "Diamond" Jack Wiley recently passed away and the building is now up for sale which has contributed to the Diamond's closure.
Wiley was the "lynchpin" to the bar's success and according to the post, he loved the space and mentored the team. "We always struck a fair deal with handshakes and clarity," it reads.
The Diamond has reportedly welcomed over 2 million guests during its run as "a local bar and an international must-stop" something that the team says it's very grateful for as well as the care and commitment of the people who shaped it.
The final day of service will be July 31 and until that date, the team says they will be celebrating nightly and hope to have guests come in and share their stories.
They sign off the goodbye: "With love for every minute we had here...Diamonds (memories) are forever."
