A local poké shop brand is saying goodbye to two of its three Metro Vancouver locations.
The owners of Pokey Okey shared Thursday, Feb. 6, on social media that they are shutting down its original Richmond shop and the Kingsway location in Burnaby.
"Hi everyone, we have a bittersweet announcement to make," begins the farewell notice to Pokey Okey fans on Instagram.
"This wasn’t an easy decision, but we want you to know—this is not goodbye forever."
Pokey Okey launched 7 years ago with Richmond shop
To that end, Pokey Okey will continue to serve customers at its remaining Vancouver shop, which is located at 995 Hornby St.
Pokey Okey began in 2018 in Richmond with its first shop at 8060 Anderson St, on a block targeted for redevelopment steps from city hall.
The business expanded to Burnaby in early 2020, adding its shop at 4919 Kingsway. Pokey Okey replaced another poké restaurant, Hooked, in 2021 in Downtown Vancouver on Hornby Street.
The following year, Pokey Okey was named one of B.C.'s "Most Loved" restaurants on delivery platform DoorDash.
Poké shop carries on in Vancouver, also tied to more upscale Kits restaurant
More recently, Pokey Okey teamed up with another local chef to open Don restaurant in Vancouver. Launched in early 2023, Don at Kitsilano is an upscale table service restaurant featuring a menu of Asian-meets-Western fare, like seafood congee pot pie, lobster bisque udon, and several popular brunch dishes.
The Pokey Okey team is not only urging fans to continue to visit its Downtown Vancouver poké shop, but also hinting that there may be more to come from the brand.
"Your support has meant everything to us, and Pokey Okey has been so much more than just a restaurant because of all of you," said Pokey Okey on Instagram, adding: "This isn’t the end—just the beginning of something new. We will be back to serve you, Richmond & Burnaby."
V.I.A. has reached out to Pokey Okey to learn more about the closure of the Richmond and Burnaby locations.
🍽 Find more delicious Metro Vancouver food and drink video stories by following V.I.A's Forking Awesome on TikTok and Instagram, and signing up for our Forking Awesome newsletter 📬 delivered fresh to your inbox every Thursday.
