Scenes from the Fable Diner in the Lee Building, which will close this month. 10109601A [PNG Merlin Archive] Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10109601A

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A popular Mount Pleasant restaurant is closing this month, citing issues with its lease and the continuing Broadway subway construction.

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In a news release announcing the closure plans, the team behind Fable Diner said the “difficult decision” was settled on due to several factors, including the inability to secure a “favourable” long-term lease, as well as to “negotiate its ongoing financial obligations favourably to survive the current conditions.”

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There is also the Broadway subway project construction that has been ongoing since the fall of 2020.

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“With the delayed completion of the nearby Broadway Subway station and no definite completion date confirmed, the current terms did not allow the business to continue operating sustainably through this period,” the news release stated.

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Fable Diner, located at 151 East Broadway in the historic Lee Building, will serve its final meals on Aug. 23.

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Opened more than a decade ago, the restaurant is known for its comfort food dishes with a twist. Fable Diner has enjoyed its fair share of time in the spotlight over the years, including in 2019, when famous foodie Guy Fieri stopped by to highlight the operation for his Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

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That slowdown, coupled with the lease uncertainty, proved too much to carry on.

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“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported Fable Diner over the years — our staff, our regular guests and everyone who has walked through our doors,” MacGillivray says. “It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re proud of what we’ve built here and the community that has grown around the restaurant.”

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Ron MacGillivray, co-owner of Fable Bar in Vancouver, on Jan. 6, 2026. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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The Fable operations will continue via its other locations, including Fable Kitchen at 1944 West 4th Ave. and Fable Diner & Grill at 755 Richards St.

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While MacGillivray says it is too soon to say for certain, he is holding on to hope that the diner may one day be back again.

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“While we don’t have anything confirmed at this time, we’d love to explore the possibility of bringing Fable Diner back in another location or food truck down the road.”

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