If you frequent the Richmond food court scene, you know that Lansdowne Centre is usually an island of stability.
While other malls like Aberdeen or Empire Centre see constant turnover, Lansdowne’s food court has remained remarkably consistent for years, serving as a reliable hub for locals and seniors.
But it looks like that era of stillness is finally ending.
We spotted earlier this month that the Villa Vietnamese stall has been completely covered up with white renovation boards.
To confirm the suspicions, the business is now tagged as “Permanently Closed” on Google.
Villa was known primarily for one thing: price. It was one of the few places left where you could still grab a Banh Mi for $7 or an affordable bowl of Pho.
Long-time regulars will remember the days when they first opened in 2014, back when their sandwiches were a shocking $3.75.
However, the low prices came with a caveat.
Despite being run by the same family behind the legendary Taco Luis (which operates in the same food court), Villa never quite reached the same beloved status, holding a rocky 2.3-star average on reviews.
So, what comes next?
With the white boards up, the rumour mill on Chinese social media is already spinning.
Word on the street is that a popular Hong Kong-style cafe stall is slated to take over the unit, though nothing has been officially confirmed yet.
Villa Vietnamese joins a wave of closures in Richmond, adding its name to a list that includes Milko, Tea Industries, and Wo Fung.
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Address: 5300 Number 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 2C7