Richmond has been THE city with the most changes in its food scene in the past few months.
Tons of new spots have popped up and old spots closing down.
Sadly, we have to share another OG eatery is set to shutter its doors.
Bubble World at Richmond’s Union Square Shopping Centre has announced its closure after around 14 years of service.
We’ve asked around and no one could remember exactly when the spot opened. The furthest online blog post we found was from Chowtimes, in 2010 at the old Union Square location.
A community member (@chow_withcheery) tipped us off about the closure, and it’s official: Bubble World in Richmond will be saying goodbye on November 24th.
The Taiwanese restaurant chain, started back in 1995 on Granville Street in Vancouver.
Since then it has opened (as a franchise) multiple locations on Robson, Kingsway and Surrey.
The chain has long been a local go-to for affordable comfort food and bubble tea.
For many, the Richmond outpost was the place you’d visit with friends or family, or after a casual badminton session.
Back in the day our friends would rotate between whether to head to Bubble World, Pearl Castle, or Strike.
From chicken nuggets to Hot Pot with Lamb, beef noodle soup, wontons in chili sauce, slushes, and the classic bubble teas—the menu had all the comfort essentials.
Although the food and service might not have been anything fancy or above average, the nostalgia it carried was priceless for many locals.
If you remember, the Richmond Bubble World was in the news recently.
Back in August, Bubble World made headlines when a car accidentally reversed into the restaurant, causing minor damage.
While the closure might not come as a shock considering how much Richmond has changed, it still feels like the end of an era.
Bubble World’s departure is a reminder that these old-school eateries are increasingly fading away, giving way to newer, shinier, and more buzzworthy food ventures.
At Union Square Shopping Centre alone, there’s been significant turnover lately.
From multiple bubble tea shops closing to new spots like Snack King Eatery taking over the longtime Deer Garden unit, it’s clear that Richmond’s dining landscape is undergoing a major shift as the poor economy rages on.
And while the new additions are exciting, it’s always bittersweet to see an old spot like Bubble World in Richmond take its final bow.
The other locations will continue to operate.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 8368 Capstan Wy Unit 1318, Richmond, BC V6X 4B4