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Welcome to Modern Cafe - Nanaimo

The Modern Café Building in downtown Nanaimo, Canada, is a significant heritage property that showcases the architectural evolution of the city. Built in 1910 in the Classical Period Revival style, the building was substantially renovated in the early 1950s with a simple International Style façade, reflecting Nanaimo’s shift toward a more modern and progressive architectural character. Its location at the intersection of Church, Chapel and Commercial Streets places it within an important cluster of historic buildings in downtown Nanaimo.

A key feature of the building is the Modern Café neon sign, installed in the mid-1940s and recently refurbished. As one of the rare surviving examples of the neon signage that once defined downtown Nanaimo from the 1940s through the 1980s, the sign remains a beloved and highly visible local landmark. The building is also historically associated with A.E. Planta, a prominent Nanaimo businessman and civic leader who operated his insurance, financial services and real estate business here from 1910 to the mid-1930s before serving as an alderman, mayor, school trustee and Canadian Senator.

Food Menu

Starters

Classics

Handhelds

Served with Crispy Russet Fries Substitute your side: Soup of the day +2 | Chowder +3 | Salad +2 | Yam Fries +3 | truffle fries +4

Entrées

Served after 4 pm

Shareables

Happy Hour (HH) 2–5 PM, 8-closing | Monday–Saturday 2-3 PM | Sunday

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