Burnaby's Amazing Brentwood's restaurant options have steadily increased in recent months, however, the massive development has a fresh vacancy, as the White Spot's experimental R+D Kitchen concept has closed its doors after two years.
Launched in spring 2022, R+D Kitchen was positioned as a slightly more upscale and gently experimental branch of the legendary Vancouver-based family restaurant chain.
Not wholly a test kitchen (White Spot has an in-house test kitchen at its headquarters and a rigorous process for developing and implementing menu changes at its multiple locations across B.C. and Alberta), the R+D location was a way for the beloved brand to branch out into slightly more upscale fare, melding invention with comfort.
Building on the White Spot backbone, R+D offered dialled-up options of upscale-casual favourites like salads, bowls, and burgers. At R+D, ingredients like Wagyu beef, mustard onion confit, and black truffle cheese took the menu in a more contemporary direction. Though kids' meals were available, they didn't come in White Spot's cherished cardboard Pirate Paks, for example.
R+D Kitchen was located in the "Tables" Food Court part of Amazing Brentwood, which is part of what remains of the old Brentwood mall building.
Elsewhere at Amazing Brentwood, several major restaurants have made their debut since R+D Kitchen opened its doors in 2022, most recently the sprawling Tap & Barrel, as well as sushi hand roll bar Hello Nori, Earls, OEB, and La Taqueria.
Restaurant faced 'challenges with the location in the mall': White Spot
"The restaurant although popular with its guests faced challenges with the location in the mall and the current environment that made it difficult to perform at the level, we required to stay open," stated White Spot in a statement provided by its corporate office.
"We appreciate the support from the team at the Brentwood Mall as we trialled this concept, and want to thank the community, our team members, and our guests for connecting with us at R+D over the last few years," continues White Spot.
“This closure by no means reflects the tremendous efforts by the team at R+D Kitchen by White Spot, and those involved in creating the concept," said Trent Carroll, President, White Spot in the media release.
“We remain committed to innovation and will be looking at opportunities for variations of R+D in the future.”
Rumours of R+D Kitchen's impending closure circulated in the community and online earlier this spring. Signs posted at the restaurant announcing the last day of business as April 28 appeared about a week prior.
The R+D Kitchen Instagram account has been converted to private, though the business' website is still active and it is still listed on the Amazing Brentwood directory as of midday April 29.
An employee indicated by phone Monday afternoon that the restaurant was closed for business and the nearest Burnaby White Spot locations can be found at 4129 Lougheed Hwy (Gilmore) and 6500 Hastings St (Kensington).
New White Spot at YVR to have R+D menu items
Additionally, White Spot indicated in its statement about the R+D Kitchen location closure that there will be the chance to enjoy some of its popular menu items again. White Spot is at work on a "new bespoke location scheduled to open Fall 2024" at YVR Airport.
"This location will pay homage to R+D Kitchen by White Spot by featuring a few guest favourite R+D culinary creations on the new menu," added White Spot.
V.I.A. has reached out to the Amazing Brentwood for further comment regarding the closure.
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