Ruby Inn, a beloved Chinese takeout-only spot on Walkley Road in Ottawa, will be closing its doors for good on June 28. The restaurant's lease is ending because the plaza will be demolished for redevelopment.
A Family Affair
Danny Chow says his parents work too hard. His mom agrees, but also says Chow works too hard. He says his parents usually end up working at their family's restaurant for more than 12 hours a day, six days a week, with only their kids to help them. That doesn't make their decision to close this well-loved Chinese spot at the Walkley Centre any easier.
“Right now, I feel so sad; I have no choice but to close for now. The mall will be demolished within a few years,” says Minshan Lu, Chow’s mother. Lu is referring to the City of Ottawa’s redevelopment plan from 2024 to replace Ruby Inn and its neighbours at the corner of Bank Street and Walkley Road with “four high-rise buildings, with heights ranging from 25 to 40 storeys.”
Lease Expiration Forces Decision
Though Lu says they weren’t given an exact demolition date, their lease was up, so they decided to close instead of remaining open indefinitely and then being forced to close suddenly. “Even (if we stayed open), it’s not completely guaranteed. And, even if we were to sell it and move, who’s going to buy a lease for potentially a year,” Chow says, adding that it was a really hard decision for the family to make.
On Sunday, May 24, they taped a piece of paper to their door, letting customers know that June 28 would be their final day in business. “All of a sudden, the next day, it’s all over Facebook and everyone’s posting about it,” Chow says, adding that it was at this point that he knew Ruby’s last month would be extremely busy.
A Community Staple
As Chow hands a bag of a dozen egg rolls to a grieving customer, the phone rings — and it doesn’t stop. Though he’ll have to brace himself for a busy month, Chow says his favourite part of the job, that he’s been doing since he was 14, is the people. “It’s more than a community. We’d have familiar faces coming in every day, and I didn’t even need to take their order at that point. I already knew their order and their names. It would be more of catching up,” Chow says.
Ruby Inn, a takeout-only spot, has been around since 1971. Its characteristic red and white flower-patterned wallpaper, very ’70s tile flooring and takeout chairs lining the windows have since become neighbourhood staples. When its original owner retired in 2011, Chow’s dad — Shenglam Chow, Ruby’s chef — bought it with a group of friends. His three kids have helped out since, but eventually, in 2016, when they became sole owners, he needed more hands. Lu quit her job as a hotel room attendant and stepped in. Now she’s the friendly face that Ruby is known for.
“They’re always so happy and pleasant here. I’ve introduced my children to it, who are adults now, so it’s been since my grandparents, right down to my kids who come here,” said Sara Hallmann, a customer waiting for her order and someone who grew up in the area.
