There was only ever one of these in all of North America, and Richmond is about to lose it.
Hazukido Cafe Plus, the first and only North American Cafe+ from the Taiwanese croissant chain, is closing for good at Aberdeen Centre on Sunday, June 14.
A Noms Magazine community member (foodtfoodt) shared the farewell post with us, which the team put on Instagram under the heading “One Last Sip (and Bite).”
This was not a standard Hazukido bakery counter.
While most Hazukido locations sell their Japanese-style French croissants to go, the Richmond Cafe+ was a full sit-down restaurant, the only one of its kind on the continent.
Alongside the signature croissants, the menu ran brunch combos, pastas, curry rice, soba and udon bowls, salads, a full coffee program, and a signature afternoon tea service.
Hazukido built its name on croissants made with Japanese flour and French butter, folded through a technique that gives them their honeycomb interior.
Beyond the classics, the chain leaned on attention-grabbing flavours like Truffle Crab, Salted Egg Yolk, and Fresh Strawberry Custard.
The Richmond outpost opened in early 2024 inside Aberdeen Centre, which puts its run here at a little over two years.
Hazukido previously had a storefront in Yaletown, but that shut down as well.
The Aberdeen Centre unit itself has a track record, though.
When we first covered the location, we flagged it as one of those Aberdeen Centre spots locals treat as cursed, a corner that had churned through at least five different restaurants in the six years before Hazukido moved in.
Now the Cafe+ becomes the latest name to cycle out of it.
The closure does not come fully out of nowhere.
Earlier this year, we reported that the Cafe+ had been listed for sale on Realtor.ca for $199,900, with the owner looking to retire and the business described as profitable.
Now, instead of a quiet handover, the team is going out with a farewell.
Through closing day on Sunday, June 14, the cafe is running buy-one-get-one-free on all beverages for takeout, plus special pricing on its spaghetti, rice, soba, and udon combos, while supplies last.
The signature afternoon tea is still available too, if you want a proper send-off rather than a grab-and-go.
It has been a turbulent year for the food side of Aberdeen Centre.
Soup curry chain Garaku had its lease terminated over unpaid rent, Taiwanese beef noodle staple Chef Hung shut down after 16 years with Taoke now taking over the space, and Man Ri Sung is relocating from the third floor down to the food court, where Taiwan Bento 101 by MYST just opened.
Hazukido Cafe Plus joins a run of recent Richmond closures, including Hight Dragon, Datang Hot Pot, and Pepper Lunch.
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Address: Unit 1008-4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC V6X 0A4