Chinese seafood restaurant on Rideau St. closes after less than a year in business

The VIP Seafood restaurant that moved into the spot where the notorious Rideau Street McDonald’s once stood has closed. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

A Chinese seafood restaurant that occupied the former site of the notorious Rideau Street McDonald’s has closed after less than a year in business.

A paper sign on the door of 99 VIP Seafood Restaurant from a bailiff service shows the restaurant’s lease was terminated by the landlord, Colonnade BridgePort, for failing to pay $83,301.16 in “defaults and arrears” plus $1,800 in fees.

It goes on to say the locks to the premises are being changed.

The restaurant opened at 99 Rideau Street across from the Rideau Centre last fall with a menu that featured traditional and modern Cantonese cuisine.

The restaurant had secured a 10-year lease in 2024, according to Colliers Macaulay Nicolls Inc. brokerage.

Chef and owner Kevin Tan told CTV News Ottawa last year that he hoped the restaurant would bring new life to Rideau Street and the ByWard Market.

• 99 VIP Seafood brings Asian cuisine to former Rideau Street McDonald’s location

The address was home to a 24-hour McDonald’s location for nearly 40 years and became infamous for its frequent police calls and incidents before it closed in 2023.

A new McDonald’s franchise opened late last year just down the street at 377 Dalhousie Street.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante told CTV News Ottawa on Tuesday the spot could soon attract another business.

“The owner of the location, obviously for privacy reasons, is not going to tell me who has made bids on the location, but I do know that there’s been a bunch of offers. I don’t know what that’s going to look like,” she said.

“Maybe that location is cursed. But I would say that that area in particular, they’ve had lots of long term tenants, like the Tim Hortons, like the Joey Rideau. There’s been lots of people there who have been very, very successful. And I think at this point we’re just waiting for that magic touch for that person to take over that spot.”

Plante says Rideau Street is waiting for a big anchor tenant to take over the spot where The Bay once was.

“I think once we get that anchor tenant in place, we will have a better idea of what the retail landscape will look like, whether that includes a restaurant or more retail.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Dylan Dyson

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