A legendary Victoria BC Chinese meat market may close if a new owner can’t be found. And that would be a tragic end to a famous institution. Read on to find out who is illegible to carry the legacy on, and what they’ll have to commit to…
Daniel Zheng, co-owner of the Loy Sing Meat Market, arranges products
in the front window of the shop. Daniel and wife Shelly are
retiring after 30 years in the business..
The Loy Sing Meat Market has been serving Victoria’s Chinatown community and the greater-Victoria population since 1889. That makes it the longest-continually-owned Chinese business in North America. Loy Sing is famous for its Barbecue Pork, Crispy Pork Skin, Soy Sauce Chicken and Duck Sauce.
Current owners Daniel Zheng and Shelly Rong have held the fort for the past 30 years. But now they want to retire.
The legacy
“What would be needed to make sure it continues this title? It has to continue making the items, the four main items. If other items are added, that’s fine, but at least these four items need to still be served here,” spokesperson Charlayne Thornton-Joe explained.
“People that are looking for these items will come here because it has been made the same way since 1889. Probably the only difference is some of the family members of the original owners said they would have to do the plucking of the chickens and the ducks.”
Who should apply
First and foremost, the new owner should ideally be of Chinese heritage. Thomas Chan, Chair of Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, which owns the building, says, “In order to keep the heritage we would like to see this business continue to run as a butcher shop, and hopefully, it’s Chinese owned.”
Zheng and Rong are asking $75,000 for the business. But there’s much more at stake: “Members of the Chinese community […] all want to make sure the legacy of what this business was continues for the future,” Thornton-Joe says. “It’s not as much of trying to find someone to buy the business, it’s more someone that will continue the business.”
Interested?
Contact the Loy Sing at: 554 Fisgard St, Victoria, BC V8W 1R4. Phone: (250) 383-9934. Or visit their facebook page.
And let us know if you become the new face of Loy Sing!
~ Maggie J.