An iconic piece of Edmonton's culinary and community history is preparing to serve its final meals. The Red Diamond House Restaurant, a staple for Chinese cuisine in the city's Idylwylde area for five decades, is closing its doors this month once its remaining stock is sold.
Saying Goodbye to a Community Pillar
For 79-year-old owner Tracy Luu, the closure is profoundly emotional. "It's like saying goodbye to an old friend," she said, with her sons helping to translate. Luu has owned the restaurant at 75 Street and 82 Avenue for more than 37 years and worked there even longer. Her family, including her four sons, have all contributed over the years.
While Luu is now ready to retire, the decision was also forced by unsustainable operating costs. "It's hard to say goodbye, Red Diamond House has become a home for so many," said her son, Robin Tran.
A Legacy Built from Humble Beginnings
Tracy Luu's journey to restaurant ownership is a story of resilience. She fled Vietnam in the late 1970s after the war, arriving in Canada with her young children and nothing else. Sponsored by a couple from a nearby Alberta town, she lived in a small apartment just blocks from the Red Diamond. Without a car, she walked to the restaurant to apply for a job as a dishwasher.
"She just needed to do what she needed to do to provide for us, to give us a better life," Robin Tran explained of his mother's relentless work ethic. Luu worked her way up, eventually buying into the business and becoming its sole proprietor.
Fifty Years of Memories and Notable Patrons
Over its long history, Red Diamond became more than just a restaurant; it was a gathering place for the city. During the peak of their dynasty years, the Edmonton Oilers were known to dine there. In the 1990s, former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein was also a patron. The restaurant was a hot spot for parties among Edmonton's movers and shakers and consistently ranked as one of the city's top Chinese eateries.
For regulars, the ambiance remained charmingly consistent. The dining room featured:
- Vases over two feet high depicting painted scenes of ancient China.
- Intricate wooden room dividers specially ordered from Taiwan.
- A Buddha statue near the red double-door entrance, whose belly patrons rubbed for good luck.
While the iconic buffet service was discontinued, longtime customers would find little else changed over the decades.
The closure of the Red Diamond Restaurant marks the end of a significant chapter for Edmonton's Idylwylde neighborhood and for the many families, celebrities, and community members who celebrated life's moments within its distinctive walls.
