A long-running dining and music establishment in the South Granville neighbourhood will say farewell to Vancouver this weekend.

The Cajun-Creole restaurant Ouisi Bistro, which regularly features live music in a room adorned with jazz-inspired decor, launched back in 1994 at 3014 Granville Street.

The menu covers brunch, lunch, and dinner, with classic plates, from the Big Easy (beef tenderloin in Creole sauce with garlic mashed potatoes) to the Caribbean hot plate (habanero and coconut chicken with cilantro lime-pesto, red beans, and green rice), and Cajun specialties like jambalaya, seafood gumbo, and southern fried chicken with jicama slaw. Its list of libations covers cocktails, martinis, single malts, beer, and wine.

Unfortunately, after a quarter of a century, the establishment, which calls itself “Vancouver’s original New Orleans restaurant”, is slated to shut down on Saturday (October 26).

Business in Vancouver reported that staff said that the closure is due to a proposed rent hike.

The lineup of last live-music performances this past month at the venue have included Tobacco Brown, Paul Caldwell and friends, and house band Cannery Row, with a final show by the Terminal City Brass Band on Saturday (October 26).

Meanwhile, one block over and across the street, West Restaurant is also closing down after 20 years at 2881 Granville Street, with its last service slated for New Year’s Eve.