There’s another closure in Richmond but this one has dragged out with its own drama.
We first gotta rewind back to November 2025.
On Chinese social media, posts started circulating that The North Bistro has been tagged as permanently closed on Google.
The North Bistro, which some people might remember as KSquared Mansion, opened back in 2022.
They were known for serving Northern Chinese cuisine and running a pretty popular all you can eat lunch buffet for eighteen dollars.
“Temporarily Closed” signs on their door were essentially a fake out as the shop did indeed permanently shut down.
But the drama comes from the memberships.
They also participated in a type of promotion that has sparked frustration for customers across many Chinese restaurants.
The deal sorta worked like this.
You sign up for a membership, top up a certain amount of money, and in return, you get meal vouchers, access to certain dishes, and a discount.
It looks great when the restaurant is running smoothly, but if the business suddenly closes, those vouchers and preloaded memberships become completely useless.
That seems to be exactly what people were pissed off about.
On Chinese social platforms, many users are accusing North Bistro management of allegedly disappearing and not paying employees or suppliers.
A few commenters even pointed out that the same owners previously ran a sushi restaurant that used a similar membership top up model before shutting down and leaving customers out of money.
Others warn that when a restaurant starts pushing heavy membership deals or big top up bonuses, it can be a sign that the business is dealing with financial trouble.
People in the comments warn that it is often a cue to stay away to avoid losing money.
There was one person responding to comments claiming to be a representative, telling people to contact the official Red Note account for help when the restaurant suddenly closed in November/December.
However, nothing seemed to have happened until we posted on our Red Note in late December, asking if anyone got their refunds and spotting the unit completely gutted.
The representative sprang back to life with the following message.
Although the representative states that a date and time were set for people to get their refunds, it is unclear whether anyone actually went through with it.
A follow-up Red Note post did not include updates from anyone else on the matter.
Regardless, a new restaurant is quickly renovating the space now.
But this gives a warning of caution for those looking to take part in the restaurant membership promotions, as the economic state of the industry is a shaky one.
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Address: 4540 Number 3 Rd #1200, Richmond, BC V6X 3V7