Lansdowne Centre’s food court is going through a massive identity crisis right now. If you’ve walked through recently, you’ve probably noticed that the “stalls available” signs are starting to outnumber the actual lunch options.
Here is the latest on the major shuffle happening at one of Richmond’s most iconic (and rapidly changing) food hubs.
The Sudden Disappearance of Katte
The biggest blow to the food court this week is the sudden disappearance of Katte. Honestly, this one hurts. Katte was easily a 4.5-star-rated anchor in the mall for about three years, known for those surprisingly high-quality Japanese curry dons and the Aburi poke bowls that were way better than “food court food” had any right to be.
There was no “farewell” notice or heads-up—the signage was simply stripped away overnight. Located right next to Grill King, the unit now stands completely bare. The lights are out, and just like that, one of the most reliable lunch spots in the mall is history.
The Food Court Ghost Town?
The Katte Lansdowne closing is just the tip of the iceberg. If you look around, the food court side of the mall is looking a little… desolate.
- Grains Fish Noodle: On the other side of Grill King, Grains has disappeared behind white wooden boards. They’ve supposedly been under “renovation” since April 21st, and while the sign says it’s only for a week, their absence makes the whole row feel abandoned.
- One Cafe: We are still waiting on One Cafe (taking over the old Villa Vietnamese spot). The “Coming Soon” signs have been up for ages, but the doors are still firmly shut.
- My Coffee: Just two stalls down from Grains, the old My Coffee spot is still boarded up with no new tenant in sight.
What’s the Tea?
With the massive Lansdowne redevelopment plans always looming in the background, you have to wonder if these small, high-quality stalls are just getting squeezed out. It’s a weird time for the mall—we’re seeing global chains like Cotti Coffee move in, but the local favourites that gave the food court its soul are vanishing.
Are you as gutted about the Katte Lansdowne closing as we are, or is there another stall you’re hoping takes over the spot? Let us know over on Instagram!
