Here's a roundup of restaurants opening and closing, including a Toronto-based Middle Eastern chain, and two losses in the frozen-treat market.

Of Paramount importance

The Toronto-based franchise Paramount Middle Eastern Cuisine will open its first Vancouver location at 560 Robson Street.

It takes over from the space formerly occupied by the Chinese fusion spot Next Noodle Bar, which closed earlier this year.

The menu includes many familiar Middle Eastern dishes, such as chicken and beef shawarma, sujuk (spicy sausage), and kafta (char-grilled ground beef with spices).

There are even breakfast items on the menu, including fatteh (cooked chick peas, hummus sauce, pita), labneh with zataar (strained yogurt with thyme and sesame), omelettes, and more.

While the company has numerous locations in Ontario, it's also in the process of expanding to Alberta, Quebec, Florida, and Pakistan.

Milkshakes no more

With the flurry of frozen-treat places opening up faster than you can say "artisanal liquid-nitrogen non-dairy vegan organic ice cream", there are bound to be casualties.

What's Shaken Milkshake Bar used to bring all the boys to the yard to check out an array of gourmet milkshakes and smoothies with flavours as adventurous as Jello Pistachio or Strawberry Peach Daiquiri.

Unfortunately, it has closed at 586 Davie Street.

Vietnamese sweet spot vacates

Meanwhile, another downtown dessert place has shut down.

Chè-Licious Desserts and Snacks closed on August 28 at 1120 Denman Street. The West End spot specialized in chè or Vietnamese sweet beverages, with ingredients such as lychee, durian,taro, pandan jelly, coconut juice, mung beans, jackfruit, red bean, and more.

The menu also included pho, bánh mì, slushes, and bubble tea.

However, fans need not despair as it's not quite the end—the owner posted on Facebook that she's hoping to reopen the eatery at a new location in the future. 

And the eats go on…

Here are some openings we previously mentioned:

• Hokkaido Ramen Santouka will open a second location in Vancouver at 558 West Broadway near Cambie Street

• Loco Ono officially launches its pop-up Hawaiian kitchen at the Refinery at 1115 Granville Street on September 14

• Pokérrito has opened at 558 Dunsmuir Street

• Chi Modern Vietnamese Kitchen opened at 1935 West 4^th Avenue in Kitsilano on August 25

• MagiCream opened its liquid-nitrogen ice cream shop at 2009 West 41^st Avenue in Kerrisdale on August 19

Here's a list of restaurants that we previously mentioned have closed:

• Kalamata Greek Taverna has closed its location at 1481 West Broadway

• Atithi Indian Cuisine, Masala Café, and Maurya Indian Cuisine have all closed