A longtime downtown Victoria staple has quietly shut its doors for good.
Azuma Sushi, a Japanese restaurant that has served locals and tourists since 2001, has officially closed after efforts to sell the business appear to have fallen through.
No public announcement was made by ownership, but a handwritten sign posted on the front door reads simply: “Close for business. Thank you for your supports in the past.”
For several months, the restaurant had been listed for sale online for $50,000. The listing described Azuma as a “highly popular modern Japanese restaurant” with a spacious 2,637-square-foot layout, two sushi bars, a cocktail bar, and a full commercial kitchen.
The location, steps away from The Bay Centre, has steady foot traffic and had long been known as one of Victoria’s busiest sushi spots.
The listing has since been removed, suggesting the business did not find a buyer. Rent for the space was advertised at $23,000 per month.
Azuma’s own website once called the restaurant “the most prominent Japanese restaurant on Vancouver Island,” highlighting its 180-seat dining room and signature aquarium that made it a go-to dining experience for more than two decades.
The closure marks the end of a restaurant that had become a fixture in the heart of downtown, known for its mix of dine-in, takeout, and delivery service.
At this time, no word has been shared on what might take over the prime location.
