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The Happy Seven（多伦多唐人街知名中餐馆） is smiling no more.

Building managers were forced to inspect a heavy natural gas smell inside the now-closed Chinese restaurant yesterday, the latest problem for the "bankrupt" diner found to have a rat infestation last month.

With its menu signs, store hours and meal specials not yet removed, the Happy Seven on Spadina Ave., just north of Dundas St. W., still looks operational.

But inside, despite the still-set tables complete with dinnerware, the only activity in the restaurant once caught on video with a rat running loose on one of its tables was a landlord checking out a foul smell.

"We got complaints of the (natural gas) odour this morning," said Tamh Bui, the manager for the building housing the Happy Seven.

"As you can tell, its fairly strong."

Yesterday's apparent gas leak was yet another mark on a tumultuous stretch for the restaurant's owners, a couple in their 50s.

The popular late-night Chinatown spot was shut down Oct. 9 when a TV crew spotted a rat on a table just inside the front window.

After passing a city inspection, the Happy Seven was back open a week later, but poor business since the incident made headlines forcing the owners to close up shop last week, Bui said.

"They had a little trouble paying the bills, and now they've moved on," he said.

As Bui investigated the natural gas smell with concerned locals yesterday, a tour of the restaurant showed many of its supplies, furniture and cookware were still left behind.

Only the food had been cleared out since the business closed, Bui said.

Yet while the Happy Seven's owners still have many of their things inside the restaurant, the management office in charge of the unit said they have already received inquiries about the space.

"We're in negotiations with two or three parties," David Huong, an agent with Nuland Realty Inc. Brokerage, said, adding that some ex-employees of the Happy Seven had expressed interest in re-opening the restaurant.

And if anything was clear from passersby yesterday on Spadina Ave., a new name might be needed, too.

"No, I don't think I'd ever eat there again," said Pete, a U of T student who did not give his last name. "Kind of creeps me out thinking about it, to be honest."

Local Karina Mora said the restaurant's closure could be a good message to send to other businesses in the area.

"I hope I don't hear of anyone finding a rat near their food ever again," she said.

billc

你以为老外的餐馆里就没有吗？不仅有老鼠，还有蟑螂呢。