How one small business says the Richmond Night Market has hindered their growth
Instagrammable eats, kitschy souvenirs, and the sounds of summer are all defining qualities of North America’s largest night market. The Richmond Night Market, hosting over 130 food vendors, is hailed as having something for everyone.
However, recent dialogue is shedding light on the lesser heard stories of the Richmond Night Market, those belonging to the vendors. The festival attracts over one million attendees a year, making it seem like the perfect opportunity for local businesses and entrepreneurs to capitalize on. Besides, what attendee would visit the Richmond Night Market without getting so much as a snack to eat? That being said, talking to the vendors themselves paints a different picture.
The Richmond Night Market, Tourism Richmond
This is where Tochi enters the picture. Founded in 2022 by entrepreneurs Andrew Yong and Picard Yiu, Tochi was created to share their favourite treat with audiences who had never been exposed to it. The concept of Tochi emerged by combining the beloved Hong Kong-style French toast with Japanese mochi, resulting in unique pairings that quickly captured the attention of foodies across the province. Initially introduced at the Richmond Night Market in 2022, Tochi became a must-try, drawing long lines of customers eager to sample the mini French toasts paired with a variety of fillings and topped with ice cream.
A flight of Tochi's French Toast, https://www.tochidesserts.com/
For both the 2022 and 2023 season, Tochi operated successfully solely at the Richmond Night Market. Their stall became a popular stop for attendees, with long lines forming outside of their booth. However, the popularity also came with challenges. Tochi's location in one of the market's main food aisles made it difficult to manage the crowd and control the flow of customers.
Despite efforts to accommodate the Richmond Night Market's requests to tame the line, including purchasing traffic cones and implementing other solutions, the situation became increasingly difficult. Andrew said with seven employees making the French toasts as quickly as they could, they “tried everything [they could] to work together with the market as well as control [their] own line.”
Tochi claims that Richmond Night Market vendors are accustomed to being slapped with arbitrary fines and complaints for issues like long lines or leaving the electricity on overnight, and that more senior vendors warned them to “do what they say… so that your business can stay alive.”
After a successful 2023 season, Tochi hoped to return for the following year. However, things took an unexpected turn when the market's organizers left Tochi in limbo, failing to give a clear yes or no on their return. Tensions escalated when the owner of the market allegedly dismissed their concerns and was continually unavailable to meet with them.
For Tochi, this was a pivotal moment. They had invested significant time and effort building their business at the market, and the uncertainty surrounding their future was disheartening. As months passed, repeated attempts to meet with the Richmond Night Market team were allegedly dodged by the owners.
Tochi claims they’re not the only vendor who have faced contentions with the Richmond Night Market team. Yiu says they have become friends with vendors who have been participating in the market for “ten plus years." They consulted their colleagues and received advice from them on how to handle the situation, stating that “we’ve been there for two years. We’re going to listen to what they say.”
After failed attempts to touch base with the Richmond Night Market team, Yiu says the Tochi team learned from fellow vendors that a new business at the market was offering a product with an “undeniable resemblance.” As Tochi realized it was unlikely they would be invited back to the market, they quickly pivoted by investing in a food truck to continue their operations independently. While Tochi adapted to its new food truck model, the situation with the Richmond Night Market began to escalate.
The new french toast stall was allegedly boothing in one of the busiest areas of the market, but Tochi’s team was shocked to see that the businesses' branding had been reworked from a soft yellow to materials strikingly similar to Tochi’s signature baby blue. Tochi then discovered that photos of their products and copyrighted branding were being used on the Richmond Nightmarket’s 2024 Skytrain advertisements, leading them to believe that the market was still trying to profit off of Tochi’s popularity.
Despite reaching out to the market’s management with a diplomatic email trying to make amends, Tochi found themselves facing a cease-and-desist letter in August 2024. Tochi had given honest testimonies about their experience at the festival to the media, but the letter demanded that Tochi stop mentioning the Richmond Night Market and issue a public apology. It also requested that they remove all defamatory content, in which they were allegedly referring to public comments on this Instagram post from stating that they would not be returning to the market.
Tochi responded with a legal rebuttal and even suggested a mutual release of claims. The legal battle took a significant toll on the small business, both financially and emotionally.
In November 2024, Tochi received a formal notice of civil claim that lists several individuals, including a blogger “John Doe”, who they say they are unaffiliated with. The letter cited incidents such as their long lines, leaving the electricity on for a night, and alleged disrespect. The Richmond Night Market owners claim that Tochi swore and “gave them the middle finger”, something that Tochi says “did not happen.” Unwilling to settle, the legal battle between Tochi and the Richmond Night Market remains unresolved.
Despite the challenges, Tochi's journey has garnered significant support from the community. Many who followed the story in the media empathized with Tochi’s struggles, recognizing the difficulties that small businesses face when standing up to powerful entities.
Customers who had previously enjoyed Tochi’s offerings at the Richmond Night Market expressed their disappointment that they could no longer enjoy the brand in its original location, but many still continue to support the food truck and its evolving menu.
Looking forward, Tochi's future is filled with hope and ambition. Andrew Yong, Tochi’s co-owner, continues to be driven by a passion for teaching and inspiring young people. The company prides itself on providing real-life work experiences for youth under twenty-two. Tochi’s vision is to grow while helping their team members advance in management roles, supporting the community through their work.
The Tochi team
In terms of the product, Tochi’s mission remains unchanged: to share their love for their signature desserts and introducing them to diverse audiences. Whether in their food truck, at events, or perhaps at a larger scale someday, Tochi is committed to expanding their reach and continuing to delight their customers with unique, delicious offerings.
For aspiring vendors, Tochi has one key piece of advice: be cautious and make informed decisions. The entrepreneurial journey is not always smooth, and “not everyone has your best interests at heart.” Tochi remains optimistic and continues to encourage others to “form their own opinions” while pursuing their dreams and being mindful of potential pitfalls.
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