A sewage issue inside a busy Richmond commercial plaza has forced three popular food businesses to shut down at the same time last week.
Vancouver Coastal Health issued closure orders on February 10 to Big Way Hot Pot, Yang Guo Fu (YGF) Malatang, and Gah Lok Dim Sum, all located at 8100 Ackroyd Rd in the Golden Village area.
The orders were posted on the front doors of each business, citing sewage contamination under Section 17 of the BC Food Premises Regulation.
Each business was required to close immediately, repair the sewage problem, thoroughly clean and disinfect all kitchen areas and food contact surfaces, and pass a re-inspection by Richmond Environmental Health before reopening.
The story first surfaced on Chinese social media last week after someone spotted a closure notice taped to the door at Big Way Hot Pot’s Ackroyd location.
Photos of the handwritten orders quickly circulated online.
But this was not a case of one restaurant failing a health inspection.
It points to a building-level plumbing problem rather than anything the individual businesses did wrong.
The specifics differed slightly between orders.
Big Way Hot Pot was told to repair sewage lines running to and from the building and hire a plumbing company for assessment.
YGF’s order cited a sewage leak coming from the toilet and flagged unsanitary conditions caused by the backup.
The other food businesses in the building do not appear to have been affected.
Only the three units on one corner of the plaza were hit.
Both Big Way Hot Pot and Gah Lok Dim Sum reopened within a couple of days after completing the required repairs and passing re-inspection.
As of February 15, YGF Malatang had still not reopened.
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Address: 8100 Ackroyd Rd, Richmond, BC