At La Saigonaise, a Vietnamese and Thai restaurant, it’s all about family.
For the last 16 years, Robyn Li has served customers and delivered meals while his wife cooks.
“What we do is very appreciated by our customers because it’s something very homemade,” said Li; some of the customers Global News spoke to agreed.
Back in June, though, the couple received an eviction notice that gave them until the end of July to leave the place.
Their restaurant is a place where they say they’ve not only invested a lifetime, but also tens of thousands of dollars.
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“This is a restaurant. We cannot just walk out, we have to find a place. All our clientele is around here,” Li told Global News.
Li said he was contesting the eviction – and thought he had more time, but in the process, the building was sold to someone else.
“They came with a locksmith guy and one bailiff guy,” Li told Global News, referring to the new owners.
“So, the whole day was very intense. We cannot do nothing and was thinking, ‘what are we going to do if we got to be out?'”
The new owner said he sympathizes with Li, but he already has plans with the building that don’t include La Saigonaise.
His lawyers said they couldn’t comment as the matter is before court.
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“This is something he should’ve dealt with before, maybe,” said Serge Abud, of Papineau Avocats.
He wouldn’t comment on the case specifically but said everything seems to be within the law.
“Based on the basic principles of the law, I’m afraid, from what I know, there’s nothing to do,” Abud said.
Li said he refused to leave and is demanding more time to find a new place – and to be compensated for his investments.
“I know and understand they bought this, they want to make money but me…It’s my living, you know?” He told Global News.
“I have, now, to think what I’m going to do, where I’m going to get the money to feed my kids.”
Li said he wouldn’t only be losing his family’s livelihood but his loyal customers, whom he says are also part of his family.
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