Key Takeaways
- The Rice Bowl Burger Bar, a long-running fish and chip shop in Wellington, is closing its doors for the last time at the end of February.
- The shop has been a staple in the community for over 40 years, with the current owners, Wawa Shen and her husband Qing, running it for the last 16 years.
- The closure is due to the building’s landlord planning to redevelop the site, and the family is looking at other business opportunities.
- The shop has many happy memories for the family, and customers are sad to see it go, with many sharing their favorite memories and well-wishes on social media.
Introduction to the Rice Bowl Burger Bar
The Rice Bowl Burger Bar, a beloved hole-in-the-wall fish and chip shop in Wellington, is closing its roller door for the last time at the end of February. The shop has been a staple in the community for over 40 years, with the current owners, Wawa Shen and her husband Qing, running it for the last 16 years. The couple has many happy memories of the shop, and their children have grown up spending time there. However, the building’s landlord has planned to redevelop the site, and the family has been notified that they must vacate the premises.
A Long History of Serving the Community
The Rice Bowl Burger Bar has a long history of serving the community, and its closure will be felt deeply by many. The shop has been a go-to destination for late-night snacks, and its owners have developed strong relationships with their customers over the years. Wawa Shen recalls the shop being open until 12am or 3am in the morning, but after the Covid pandemic, things have changed. The shop has been open seven days a week, with 11-hour shifts on weekdays, and the family is still busy running the shop until its closure. The shop’s owners have been grateful for the support of their customers, and they are sad to see the shop go.
Memories and Reflections
Wawa Shen has many fond memories of the shop, including the time when the Loafer’s Lodge hostel burnt down, killing five people, just a short distance down the road. The shop’s owners were affected by the tragedy, as many of the lodge’s tenants were their customers. Despite the tragedy, the shop remained a staple in the community, and many of the lodge’s former occupants still came to visit and get some food. Shen said that the shop was like a kitchen to many of its customers, and they still come to say hello and get some kai. The shop’s owners are grateful for the relationships they have developed with their customers, and they will miss serving the community.
Customer Reactions
The news of the shop’s closure has been met with sadness from many customers. Carolyne Peterson, a regular customer, was popping by the shop for lunch on Monday and said that the burger bar was always her go-to for a late-night snack. She praised the shop’s chips, saying they were the best in town. Matt Davis, another long-time customer, had been coming to the shop since he moved into the area nearly 23 years ago. He said that it was sad to see the shop go and that he would miss the great service and hot chips. The shop’s owners have been overwhelmed with messages from customers, with Wawa Shen saying that she couldn’t keep up with the responses.
The Future for the Rice Bowl Burger Bar
Although the Rice Bowl Burger Bar is closing its doors, the family is looking at other business opportunities. Wawa Shen said that they are still busy running the shop, but they are exploring other options. The family is grateful for the support of their customers and is sad to see the shop go. On a notice posted to the shop’s Facebook page, they thanked their customers for their "continued love and support over the last 17 years". The closure of the Rice Bowl Burger Bar is a loss for the community, but the family is looking forward to the future and new opportunities.
Conclusion
The closure of the Rice Bowl Burger Bar is a sad event for the community, but it is also a celebration of the shop’s long history and the relationships it has developed with its customers. The shop’s owners, Wawa Shen and her husband Qing, have been grateful for the support of their customers, and they will miss serving the community. Although the shop is closing its doors, the family is looking at other business opportunities, and they are excited for the future. The Rice Bowl Burger Bar will be remembered as a beloved staple in the community, and its legacy will live on in the memories of its customers.
