A Japanese convenience store is closing two of its Richmond locations at the end of the month.
Daruma, known for its catalogue of Japanese snacks, products, onigiri, bento boxes and cheese desserts, is closing its Capstan and Steveston stores on Feb. 28.
The business announced the closures on social media and at its store locations, citing "business development needs" as the reason for its farewell.
Daruma first opened in Metro Vancouver in 2022, launching in Union Square, next to Supermarket 2000.
Owner Yuki Ma previously told the Richmond News she wanted to bring the authentic Japanese convenience store experience to the neighbourhood, including its late-night hours.
“We hope to provide a convenient service for people on a budget to get better ingredients (such as wagyu, ikura and bluefin tuna) so they can bring them home and share with their friends,” she said.
Daruma later expanded to Parq Vancouver, Steveston's Bayview Street and Tsawwassen Mills in Delta.
The Steveston location was specifically chosen to honour the legacy of Japanese immigrants in Steveston, according to a company spokesperson in 2023.
With the closure of the Capstan and Steveston locations, Daruma is offering a 30-per-cent discount for the entire store, excluding special-priced items until the end of the month.
The Vancouver and Delta locations will remain open.
🍽 Find more delicious Metro Vancouver food and drink video stories by following V.I.A's Forking Awesome on TikTok and Instagram, and signing up for our Forking Awesome newsletter 📬 delivered fresh to your inbox every Thursday.
📲 Sign up for the Richmond News daily headline newsletter for the latest in the community.
