Kerrisdale’s Japanese snack shop arrival has turned into the shop that never was.
Back in March, a Noms Mag community member (thecafebuzz) spotted a “coming soon” signage for Daruma at the base of Chloe, the Parisienne-inspired condo along East Boulevard and the Arbutus Greenway.
But that seems not to be the case any longer.
The window signage has now been taken down and its remains are seen crumpled on the floor.
Now the ground-floor unit is sitting empty again, it’s a pretty clear signal that Daruma has pulled the plug on its planned Vancouver Kerrisdale location.
It’s all happening against the backdrop of Chloe building itself being placed into receivership, despite the project being fully constructed.
The Japanese snack brand first launched in 2022 at Richmond’s Union Square Plaza, before expanding to a second Richmond outpost in Steveston, a lobby-level shop at JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, and a larger Tsawwassen Mills location.
But earlier this year, Daruma shut down both of its Richmond locations, leaving the Parq Vancouver and Tsawwassen outposts as its primary brick-and-mortar footprints.
Club Pilates appears to be the lone active tenant on the retail level for now, while most of the other storefronts still sit in limbo.
Many of the condos and most of the 11 commercial units remain unsold, leaving this stretch of East Boulevard feeling quieter than it should for such a high-profile corner.
While this Daruma plan stalls out, it now joins a growing list of Vancouver food spots that have recently shut their doors, including Potluck Hawker Eatery, Mister Ice Cream, and Hon’s Wonton House.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.