A news update on the Richmond Night Market.

Short story:

  • The “Summer Night Market” will begin Friday, May 30 and run until October 5 (June 23 update: the food has arrived and the market is in full swing!)
  • The night market is open:
    • Fridays & Saturdays: 7pm – Midnight
    • Sundays & Holiday Mondays: 7pm – 11pm
  • The market is located at 12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond (behind Home Depot)

Long Story:

Richmond Night MarketThe Richmond Night Market has been serving up Asian street food (and other festivities) every summer since 2000. It’s grown in popularity every year and, love it or hate it, is a unique event in Vancouver. We covered it last year. There were some serious question marks as to whether or not the event would return this year.

Here are the latest developments:

  • Raymond Cheung (Target Events Production Ltd.), the event founder, cancelled the event for 2008. This is due to the lease running out on the current location at 12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond (behind Home Depot); apparently, the landlord wanted a lot more money
  • Raymond Cheung is looking for a new venue for the night market, and hopes that it can return (in a better location) in 2009

So the summer night market is off for 2008 right? Nope, it’s ON.

  • Paul Cheung (Lions Communication, organizers of other Vancouver festivities throughout the years), has acquired the necessary permits and will be hosting the night market at the same location (12631 Vulcan Way) under the new “Summer Night Market” moniker.
  • The new venue (at the same location) is currently under construction. Improvements such as improved access and cheaper parking (whoo!) have been promised

Sweet! So when can we check it out?

  • According to Lions Communication’s website, the event will begin Friday, May 30 and run to October 5 (June 23 update: the food has arrived and the market is in full swing!)
  • The night market will be open:
    • Fridays & Saturdays: 7pm – Midnight
    • Sundays & Holiday Mondays: 7pm – 11pm

Cool. Same place, same time, cheaper parking. It’s all good right? Not yet…

  • Raymond Cheung has filed trademark and copyright infringment lawsuits against Paul Cheung, claiming that the “Summer Night Market” infringes on the “Richmond Night Market”
  • Last Sunday, there was sabotage on the construction on the new venue

So, as long these 2 complications do not delay the opening, I guess we can begin looking forward to summer nights of tasty Asian street food, cheap Chinese ripoff products, and stressful (slightly cheaper?) parking.