Published 5:30 am Sunday, October 4, 2026
After 42 years in business, Nanaimo’s family owned MGM Restaurant is closing on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Pictured are brother and sister Kevin and Tricia Samaroo, whose parents opened the restaurant.
(Robert Barron/News Bulletin)
| Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… |
Nanaimo’s iconic MGM Restaurant is closing after serving the community for 42 years.
Co-owner Tricia Samaroo said the last day at the popular family-owned restaurant, long known for its old-fashioned homestyle comfort food, all-day breakfast, and a warm, welcoming community atmosphere, is set for Oct. 11.
She said MGM, which is located at 240 Nicol St. in the city’s south end, was first opened by her parents, Helen and Tony Samaroo, who were uneducated immigrants when they first came to Canada.
“They worked very hard and opened a number of restaurants over the years, with MGM being the third one, and the only one that’s left,” Tricia said as customers lined up outside the door waiting patiently for the 11 a.m. opening time.
“I started working here when I was just five-years old and, other than a few years when I went to university and worked at other jobs, I’ve been here for about 25 years in total. My mom and brother Kevin are still working here as well.”
Asked why the Samaroo family is closing such a successful and well-established restaurant, she said they felt it was just time to move on to other interests and pursuits.
As for what those other interests and pursuits would be, Tricia said no decisions have been made at this time.
“But the family lives to serve, so you can be sure that we’ll continue to serve Nanaimo in one way or another,” she said with a smile.
“We just felt it was time to close one chapter and open another.”
The family owns the building MGM operates from, but Tricia said there are no plans to sell it as it may be needed at some point down the road for another use.
Tricia said the family thanks everyone in the community for their support and memories over the past 42 years.
“I have too many great memories to count, but the best ones are about the great friendships I’ve made with so many of our customers,” she said.
Nanaimo’s True North Pressure Washing is launching Operation Turkey Drop to help struggling people and families this Thanksgiving Day.
Owner Chris Wolfe said the goal of the fundraiser is to provide 500 turkey dinners that will be distributed at the Salvation Army’s location on Nicol Street on Thanksgiving Day, which is Oct. 12.
The turkey dinners will be prepared by the team at the Real Meals Nanaimo restaurant, and people can take the meals home.
Wolfe said every $100 contributed to the fundraiser will provide 10 complete turkey dinners, and he is personally funding the first 100 dinners.
The funding goal of Operation Turkey Drop is $4,000.
Wolfe said that since moving to Nanaimo, the city has been incredibly good to him.
“It has welcomed me, supported my business and given me the opportunity to build a better life,” he said.
“Now I want to give something back to the city that has given me so much. This Thanksgiving, I want to help families who may not have the means to put a turkey dinner on the table. I also want to support people who may not have family to cook with, or anyone to share that meal with.”
Wolfe said that whether they contribute one meal, 10 meals or simply share this campaign, they are helping make sure someone in Nanaimo feels remembered this Thanksgiving.
The GoFundMe page can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/operation-turkey-drop-500-thanksgiving-meals-for-nanaimo.
The numbers attending the Commercial Street Night Market this summer were well above those of last year.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog acknowledged in his mayor’s report at the council meeting on Monday, Sept. 21 that the seventh season of the popular Night Market, which ran every Thursday evening from June 18 to Aug. 27, was very successful.
He said this year’s market saw an average of 9,000 visitors each Thursday, and some evenings, as many as 15,000 people attended.
“To all those who participated, and to all the businesses that came out, and to the organizers, congratulations, you did a fabulous job,” Krog said.
According to the numbers tallied by the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the annual event, after last year’s night market, between 5,000 and 6,000 people attended each Thursday, with some weeks drawing closer to 8,000.
The chamber has indicated that planning for the next year’s Commercial Street Night Market season will begin soon.
The business organization encouraged all who are interested in participating in the eighth annual Night Market to stay connected with the chamber through its website, newsletter, Facebook, and Instagram for future updates.
In other chamber news, next month’s Business After Business event on Thursday, Oct. 15, will be hosted by La-Z-Boy Nanaimo.
The Chamber is inviting people to an evening of networking, design inspiration, and meaningful connections with Nanaimo’s business community, while discovering the latest interior design trends and creative ideas to bring comfort, style, and functionality to a home or workspace.
Plus, one lucky attendee will win a $250 La-Z-Boy gift card.
The October Business After Business event will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, located at 4950 Uplands Drive.
The event is free for Chamber members, and $15 for non-members.
robert.barron@nanaimobulletin.com
