The heart of Montreal's Chinatown is heavy with the impending closure of Wing Noodles, a legendary institution that has served the community for nearly nine decades. Family members, employees, and community leaders gathered on Monday, November 17, 2025, to mark the end of an era for the iconic noodle factory and import business.
A Century of History Comes to an End
Wing Noodles will officially cease operations at the end of November, closing a remarkable chapter that began in 1897 when Chinese immigrant Hee Chong Lee founded the company originally known as Wing Lung. The business initially specialized in Chinese goods before evolving into the noodle production powerhouse that became familiar to generations of Montrealers.
The company underwent significant transformations throughout its history. In 1946, Lee's sons Arthur and Samuel joined the business, prompting a name change to Wing Hing Lung and a shift toward manufacturing noodles, egg roll covers, and won ton wrappers. The company later expanded to produce fortune cookies, almond cookies, and various sauces, eventually obtaining kosher certification for its entire product line and becoming Wing Noodles Ltd.
Community Leaders Voice Concerns and Hopes
Fo Niemi, director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), which organized Monday's gathering, emphasized the broader significance of the closure. "It's a part of Chinatown's history but also Montreal's history," Niemi stated. "It's such an iconic institution. Imagine tomorrow Schwartz's closes. It's more than just about Chinatown."
Bill Wong, director of the Montreal Chinatown Development Council, described founding family patriarch Arthur Lee as "the godfather of Chinatown" and noted that the Lee brothers Gilbert and Garnet had continued their father's generous legacy. Wong expressed the community's profound sense of loss, stating, "We are losing something that is with us for so long. It's like part of the family."
Uncertain Future for Historic Building
The closure raises urgent questions about the future of the building itself, which was sold to real estate investors Brandon Shiller and Jeremy Kornbluth in 2021. Although the structure has since received heritage protection, it is now back on the market, creating anxiety within the community.
Wong revealed ambitious plans to acquire both the Wing Noodles building and the adjacent Davis and Sons building, where the company also operated. "The first thing is we need to acquire this building," he explained, "and the second thing is we want to develop a commercial and residential project, and maybe some sort of exhibition hall or museum."
Community concerns have been heightened by rumors that the Old Brewery Mission might acquire the Davis and Sons building for social housing. Wong firmly opposed this possibility, warning that "Business is already down. If you put something like that there, it's going to hurt Chinatown because a lot of tourists and people aren't going to come to shop."
Niemi sees potential for a collaborative solution involving private, public, and community sectors, possibly utilizing the federal government's Build Communities Strong Fund along with municipal and provincial support. "People want to come together to write the next chapter of Chinatown," he noted optimistically.
The human impact of the closure is deeply felt by long-time employees like Bryant Chang, who has worked as a delivery driver for Wing Noodles for the past 14 years. Chang, who also serves as vice-president of the Chinese Association of Montreal, reflected that "There isn't a Chinese restaurant in Montreal or out in the suburbs that doesn't recognize me or know me by my name." He predicted that employees "are going to be sad" to see the business close.
As Montreal's Chinese community prepares to say goodbye to this culinary landmark, the closure of Wing Noodles represents more than just the end of a business—it marks the passing of a cultural touchstone that connected generations of Montrealers to their heritage and to each other.
