From its humble beginnings into the behemoth it is today, the Richmond Night Market has become a summertime staple for many a Metro Vancouverite. But now that it’s coming to a permanent end, we’re taking a look back at how this event became so iconic for locals.
RELATED: The Richmond Night Market Is Permanently Closing After This Summer
Here’s how the Richmond Night Market became a fixture in Metro Vancouver’s summer.
The Richmond Night Market: How it Came to Be
A Humble Start
The Richmond Night Market was founded all the way back in 2000 by entrepreneur Raymond Cheung, who started the market at the Continental Centre on Cambie Road. It began as a small community event that ran for just couple of months during the summer. In spite of this humble start, the market garnered many visitors, resulting in complaints from Continental Centre’s tenants as the market impacted their businesses due to the parking availability and traffic.
A year later, Cheung relocated the night market to the Lansdowne Park Shopping Centre. Its wide parking lot offered plenty of space for vendors and growth. Regardless, history repeated itself in 2002 as the mall’s tenants once more complained about the market disrupting their business. The market had to move again.
More Moves
This next move led the market to behind Vulcan Way’s Home Depot. There, you can guess what happened: the Richmond Night Market was a huge success and resulted in huge lineups. Vulcan Way’s landlord sought to increase the annual lease for the market, which Cheung ultimately declined. The market was nearly cancelled after this, as the competing Summer Night Market instead accepted the lease.
After a court battle between the two markets over the event names, the Summer Night Market’s founder Paul Cheung (no relation to Raymond Cheung) closed his market.
More moves followed, as well as a four-year hiatus before Cheung secured the location at the corner of Number 3 and Bridgeport Rd. in 2012.
Explosive Popularity
Even during its initial stint at the Continental Centre, it was clear that the market had struck gold. With each year, it grew in popularity, eventually reaching an average of 30,000 visitors each night. Currently, the website notes the attraction as garnering over 1 million visitors each year.
It’s not only the largest night market in North America, but it’s also a generational staple for many Metro Vancouver families. Today, it offers over 100 food vendors, as well as a plethora of retail vendors, games, and live entertainment. It’s been covered from local publications all the way to the New York Times.
The End of an Era
On August 5, organizers announced that the Richmond Night Market will be permanently closing after this summer’s season due to its lease ending.
In a press release, Cheung said, “Although it is heartbreaking to say goodbye, I am filled with gratitude rather than regret. The memories we have created together over the past 26 years will continue to live on in the hearts of our visitors, vendors, performers and everyone who has been part of this amazing journey.”
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There are less than 6 weeks left to enjoy Richmond Night Market. Once it closes on September 20, 2026, there’s no telling whether or not it’ll be back ever again.
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