It looks like there’s another quiet closure to add to Richmond’s growing list of disappearing spots.
This comes after Yifang and Machi Machi quietly shut down their final locations in the city.
This time, it’s Whale Tea at Empire Centre.
A community member (@likebyregina) recently shared with us a post on Chinese social media revealing that a new bubble tea shop is coming to the same address as Whale Tea.
When we visited the unit this week to take a peek, the space was completely empty, confirming that Whale Tea had quietly shut down.
Interestingly, Whale Tea’s Google Business page still shows the store as active, and the most recent reviews have frustrated individuals voicing that the shop was closed despite its hours indicating otherwise.
These signs suggest the bubble tea shop must have shut down recently.
Whale Tea first opened in May 2023, taking over the former hip Exposure bubble tea unit.
Hailing from Nanjing, China, Whale Tea became known for its visually stunning and health-conscious drinks.
The whale symbol, according to the brand’s UK website, signifies “strength and sustainability,” which was reflected in their drinks that featured natural coloring from polyarctic plants, without preservatives or chemical additives.
Their menu offered the usual suspects like milk teas, fruit teas, and fresh milk teas, but the standout was their exclusive Crystal Series.
The Blue Crystal drink, for example, featured bright blue and white hues with a refreshing mix of coconut milk and blue jelly—a true visual and flavorful delight.
Unfortunately, Whale Tea’s closure joins a wave of similar quiet shutdowns this year, where shops have disappeared without any formal announcements.
However, it looks like the trend of modern oriental tea is making its way to Metro Vancouver – which as been heavily taken over by the fruit tea phase.
A new chain, ChaHalo, is set to take over the Whale Tea unit and is slated to open around March. .
This will be ChaHalo’s first BC location, joining its existing three locations in Ontario.
While it’s sad to see Whale Tea go, the arrival of ChaHalo adds a new chapter to Richmond’s ever-evolving bubble tea scene.
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: 131-4600 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC