Mr Mikes Alumni

07/24/2025

Now available on Amazon!

11/12/2022

The photo below is of Granville St in the mid 70’s. You can see the Mr Jake’s sign in the bottom right. Here’s a little known fact about the origin of Mr Jake’s.

Sometime in 1959, Bob Constabaris came back from San Francisco where he had just seen Tad’s steakhouse. Tad’s was a self serve steak restaurant, that offered a 7 oz. Sirloin steak, baked potato, tossed salad and garlic bread for $1.19. Bob had decided he was going to copy this idea, so he approached his brother Nick ( 15 years his senior ) to ask him if he wanted to be his partner. Nick didn’t like the idea and told Bob the idea would never work and that he wasn’t interested.

Fast forward a year to 1960 and Bob had opened the Original Mr Mikes, at 911 Granville St. Not only had he opened the restaurant, but it was also a huge success. He had a lineup 7 days a week. After seeing what a success the restaurant was, Nick then told Bob he was willing to be his partner. I’m not sure exactly how the conversation went, but Bob essentially told Nick to take a hike.

Fast forward another year to 1961 and Bob found out he had a new competitor just one block away In The 800 block of GranvilleSt. Someone had copied Bob’s idea ( just as Bob had copied Tad’s) and not only that they called it Mr Jake’s! That person was Bobs older brother Nick.

Obviously Bob was furious and they didn’t speak for 5 or 6 years because of it. Eventually later on they kissed and made up and went in th have great success together.

02/10/2018

A lot of people don't know that we owned "The Sirloiner" restaurants too. Here is a cheesy old Commercial from 1985!

A 1985 television ad for Sirlioner Restaurants.

12/01/2017

An old TV Ad from 1984

A 1984 television spot for the specials at Mr. Mike's Restaurants.

11/24/2017

Celebrating the opening of the 50th store in 1975

11/19/2017

Hi Everyone. If you are old enough, I'm sure you remember that during the 1960's through 1980's, Mr Mikes was the largest restaurant chain in British Columbia.

We are people that were involved on the very inside and will be co-authoring a book in the new year.

We have lots of material and not near enough photos. If you have any photos or great old stories that you think might be fun for our book, we'd love to see / hear them.

Looking forward to your post and helping us put this book together, about the earliest, most successful Canadian owned restaurant chain of it's time!!