Challenging restaurant conditions have resulted in the closure of Bar + Restaurant Nellos in Coquitlam.
On social media, the restaurant announced it was "going out with a bang" with dining service and live music on Saturday (July 22).
Local restaurant goers are disappointed by the news, posting reviews of recent meals at the beloved Maillardville Italian eatery (925 Brunette Ave.).
"It is with extremely heavy hearts that we have to announce the closing of Nellos," the owners said in a statement on Facebook.
"We will be forever grateful to this community and to all of you that have shown us nothing but support since the start. Our family truly grew when we opened our doors last year, from all of our amazing customers who are now family to our insanely dedicated team who has gone above and beyond to make Nellos what is was."
A Coquitlam family opened the restaurant a year ago in the hopes of recreating the cozy atmosphere of an Italian-style restaurant with tempting dishes, including burrata and prosciutto antipasti, veal marsala and ghiottone (minced chicken, brandy, cream, parmigiano).
But challenging conditions resulted in the closure of the business, according to Parker Wong, whose family owns the business.
"Unfortunately, Nellos did not do as well as we would have hoped financially, which left us with the difficult decision of closing it down and leasing out the building to someone else."
Nellos has been located at a prominent corner in Maillardville next to the Loma tower, which is nearly completed.
However, on the bright side, the family is able to concentrate on its other establishment, Golden Parrots Pub (formerly Two Parrots Pub) at 170 Golden Dr.
Wong said plans are to renovate the pub and restaurant the family has owned for many years "to give the place a new look — completely moving it away from the look that JRG Micky's gave it."
Arwen Drew also posted on the Eat Tri-Cities social media page that she enjoyed a final meal at Nello's last Saturday, noting that she had the veal.
"The whole meal was absolutely delicious. So good, that I had to go back the next night to try the other Veal dish which was the veal limone. It was really delicious, however I did enjoy the masala a little bit more as I really like the flavor of the mushroom," Drew wrote.
The Nellos building is owned by Ed and Tamara Wong and was previously the Lantern Public House.
And, for many years, it was The French Quarter Pub.
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