Fol Epi is closing its downtown Victoria location.
The bakery and cafe’s last day at 732 Yates St. will be Sunday, May 14, as staff continue operations at their flagship Dockside (Victoria West) venue, reads a statement posted Monday to Instagram.
The closure, according to staff, comes amid post-pandemic business struggles.
“We stacked up a lot of debt getting through COVID, and now it’s time to pay it back, and the economy is not as strong as we had all hoped,” reads the statement. “More and more people are on limited budgets, it’s a tough time doing business…capitalism sucks.”
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Instagram users were saddened by the news but offered support.
“Going to miss having you downtown — super excited to continue visiting Dockside this summer, though,” said one commenter, while another added: “So loved coming to the Yates location but totally understand the pressures small businesses are facing during a pandemic and then a recession…”
The downtown cafe used to share its space with Agrius Restaurant, but that eatery closed its doors in January — about a week after nearby Old Vic Fish & Chips announced it was shutting down after 90 years in business.
Fol Epi, which means “crazy wheat head,” was first established in 2009 and in the statement, staff are acknowledging patrons for their business through the years.
“We want to thank each staff member and customer that helped create something special that will leave a lasting legacy within our industry, in Victoria and beyond. We are leaving this space in exceptional hands with a new project in a similar style,” they said.
“Our staff are being supported in this transition, but we ask that you treat this closure with care and compassion when interacting with staff this coming week.”
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Ethan Morneau
