Unless you keep up with traditional media or been to Burquitlam this year, you probably didn’t know some longtime North Road eateries have been forcibly closed.
We didn’t know about it until a friend shared it with us recently.
On December 30th, a devastating fire—and potential explosion—broke out early Sunday morning along North Road near Rochester Street, temporarily shuttering several beloved Coquitlam eateries.
According to Global News, the blaze, which began before 6:30 AM, sent thick, black smoke billowing from the longtime strip mall and caused significant structural damage.
Authorities report signs of a possible explosion, with shattered glass blown across the parking lot.
Among the affected food businesses are Kimbap Cheonguk, Bukchigo Jangguchigo, Yewon Korean Restaurant, Pho Capital, and Cafe Blanc.
Other non food businesses in the strip mall were also affected.
Each of these family-run food spots has been a staple along North Road for years.
Kimbap Cheonguk, in particular, is well known and regularly featured for their kimbap and cold noodles since before 2011.
When we walked by the site in early January, the destruction was unmistakable.
The entire exterior of the strip mall was blown out, with storefronts reduced to charred frames.
Exposed pink insulation and splintered beams could be seen, a sobering reminder of the force behind the suspected explosion.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Access to the properties remains fenced off as investigations continue.
This incident leaves the future of these businesses uncertain.
Are the stores going to be rebuilt? Or will the land be sold off for redevelopment?
Considering how the Lougheed area is going through massive developments, it wouldn’t be surprising IF the latter was true.
For now, the North Road community mourns the temporary loss of these beloved eateries, hoping for clarity and a path forward.
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