‘Impact of inflation’ to blame for Agrius Restaurant closure

Agrius Restaurant in downtown Victoria is closing its doors.

The popular award-winning eatery on Yates Street is shuttering for good this Sunday, Jan. 15, with staff citing the impacts of inflation as the reason for the quickly announced closure.

“This has been a very difficult and heartbreaking decision,” according to a statement posted Friday to the restaurant’s Instagram page.

“We have worked very, very hard to try to create more sustainable model for local food: from farmers and producers to the staff working in front and back of house, but in the current climate, this has proven to be incredibly difficult.

“With the impact of inflation and the increasing difficulties inherently involved with running a restaurant, we have got to a point where it is no longer financially viable and we are not able to operate any longer.”

The artisan bakeshop Fol Epi, which operates within the same building, is staying open and continuing business as usual, as staff offer bakery, cafe and brunch services to patrons, reads the statement.

Still, Instagram users are saddened by the news.

The post was met with a flood of reactions, including from one commenter who called Agrius “one of our favourite restaurants in North America” and another who said, “as an early team member when this beautiful spot opened, I am so sad to see this outcome.”

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After opening in 2015, Agrius, known for serving organic and seasonally-focused foods, was named one of the Best New Restaurants in Canada by enRoute magazine before scoring various other awards and recognition.

“In the future, if the social and economic environment seem like they would support a restaurant focused on serving food from local farms and creating a positive environment around food service we still feel a deep love and desire to see this,” the statement added.

“We hope that you will continue to support the other incredible local restaurants we have been lucky to share this city with.”

Agrius now joins a growing list of local restaurants to close, including Old Vic Fish & Chips which announced earlier this week it was shutting down after 90 years in business.

CHEK News has reached out to Agrius for more information.

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