Monk McQueens restaurant closing after 26 years

by Michelle da Silva on Nov 30, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Monk McQueens, which has been operating in Vancouver for 26 years, will close at the end of 2012.

A long-standing Vancouver restaurant is shutting its doors after 26 years. Monk McQueens Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar (601 Stamps Landing) will close following a New Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2012. The restaurant located on the waterfront of False Creek was known for serving fresh seafood and weekend brunch, as well as being a popular location for tourists and large parties.

“Since opening for Expo 86, we’ve had an incredible run at Stamps Landing,” Bob Lindsay, owner of Monk McQueens and Coal Harbour’s LIFT Bar & Grill (333 Menchions Mews), stated in a news release today (November 30). “We’ve employed well over 2,000 people, and had a tremendous impact on the community. Find me a Vancouverite that hasn’t been in love or fallen in love on Monk’s deck!”

Taking over from Lindsay will be the Mahony family, owners of Mahony & Sons Public House. The False Creek restaurant will be the third location for the traditional Irish pub, which already has establishments in UBC and at Canada Place. Mahony’s will open in summer 2013 after renovations.

“We are very proud and excited to be opening Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing and look forward to being a part of the growing South False Creek community,” Chris Mahony, proprietor of Mahony & Sons stated in the same news release.

Diners interested in joining Monk McQueens staff for their final service can find details for the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve “retirement party” on the restaurant’s website.

You can follow Michelle da Silva on Twitter at twitter.com/michdas.

Comments (11) Add New Comment
Controletti
Nov 30, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Great. Another chain at a fabulous site.
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judi sommer
Dec 1, 2012 at 10:56 am
Oh no!! One of my summer faves and a glorious place to take visitors. Another pub at that location we don't need! I'm sorry the location couldn't attract a similar mix of fine food and oysters. Does that now mean Stamps will struggle to compete?
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Pat
Dec 1, 2012 at 11:36 am
I live in the neighbourhood but I rarely went to Monk McQueens.

And I won't miss it.

It's another of those restaurants that overcharges for small portions of pretty ordinary food because the view out the windows is beautiful.
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Patrick Brando
Dec 1, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Thank God. Their quality of food has gone from bad to worse at Monk's.
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Dmac
Dec 4, 2012 at 3:46 am
Isn't there already an Irish Pub there? Right behind Monks.
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marder
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:04 pm
I sure hope that our neighbourhood won't be affected by later hours and more noise. Although my family has enjoyed the other, smaller restaurants at Stamps Landing, we have enjoyed our meals at Monks...
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Donald
Dec 14, 2012 at 5:48 pm
What are they thinking? It's a residential neighborhood, a Pub will not last..The neighbors will be on them - and good for them. The noise, the traffic will not be tolerated!
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upthecreek
Dec 17, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I live in the area and went to Monks a few times. The food was alright for me - but the view and service was very good.

One thing I appreciated about Monks was the fact they encouraged their patrons to respect the neighborhood as they left the building. Patrons from the Wicklow Pub can be extremely loud and rambunctious late in the evening.

I have no problems with a new pub, if that's the type of fare that Vancouver wants and it treats the city right, then I am all for it.

I do hope the new management, and patrons, are as considerate as Monks was in regards to the neighboring community.

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David Sutherland
Dec 23, 2012 at 10:58 pm
... one of the best places for lunch , or dinner , on False Creek .
... good food , great staff , stunning location ... will be missed !
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Stephanie & Ken Leach
Jan 4, 2013 at 7:48 pm
Just heard about Monk McQueens' closing - My husband & I have been married for 20 yrs. as of July 1st last year. We moved to Calgary just before getting married and have had a wonderful life - throughout all of the trial & tribulations we are still together and more deeply in love than we ever could have known. We had our wedding ceremony AND reception at McQueens -- was that the top restaurant? Can't recall - anyway we had a FABULOUS ceeremony & reception for 75 of us - it was a Wed. and the ceremony was about 11am, reception from about noon onward. The details of the entire day were taken care of by 'Diana' who worked there and helped make our wedding day absolutely amazing - we couldn't have asked for a more relaxed, beautiful, classy & elegant wedding day. Thank you Monk McQueen's for making our wedding a smashing success, just like the rest of our lives (with a few bumps along the way ... :) )
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Cyph
Jan 9, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Anyone that thinks the new Mahoney's is going to be an "answer" to the big windows = big price tag is sorely delusional. That's how business works. People pay for perks. This is just a different brand that'll do much the same thing and be even more of the Vancouver experience: "Same. Same. Same." Couldn't get Milestones interested in the site, I suppose...
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