A Burnaby institution, frequented by SFU students since it opened in 1980, has closed its large, wooden doors for the last time.
The Mountain Shadow Pub had its last hurrah Saturday night and is slated for redevelopment.
"I'm sad to see it go," said former patron Chris Ciavarelli, who started the Save the Mountain Shadow campaign.
Ciavarelli used to frequent the pub with friends who were attending SFU, he said, but hadn't been in some time when he heard it was closing.
He was concerned that there was little knowledge of the planned closure in the neighbourhood, he added.
"I don't feel like a lot of residents got to know about it," he said, adding he canvassed the neighbourhood for reactions to the redevelopment plan.
He said many people were shocked to find out it was closing, however, there was not much to be done as the city had already held the public hearing for the rezoning.
Ciavarelli started the campaign on behalf of people who loved the pub but hadn't known about the public hearing in time, he said.
"I kind of started it as an outlet for other people to speak," he said. "There was a lot of support for it."
Ciavarelli's online petition has more than 650 signatures, and he collected more than 70 from the surrounding neighbourhood, he said.
Though not a heritage building, the ski-chalet-style pub is unique in the city, he added.
"It's ludicrous to say it's not important," Ciavarelli said.
Some of those unique elements will be included in the new structure - a three-storey mixed-use commercial and residential property, according to a city staff report.
"The architect has chosen to retain some of the current building's elements in the proposed new design," the report stated. "Specifically, brick and beams in the current structure are proposed to be re-used as a touchstone of the site's past."
The report was presented to council last July in response to concerns raised during a public hearing for the rezoning. The report also responded to residents who wrote the city expressing concern over the loss of the pub.
"Although the pub provides for a community gathering space, the property owner has indicated that the pub is no longer financially viable on the site," the report stated. "In addition, it is noted that the pub has a longstanding history of complaints.
The property is at 7174 Barnet Rd.
