End of an era: Burnt Ramen site sold months after fire

Richmond's long-troubled Burnt Ramen property has been sold. According to property records, Ma Wei Zhong and Ma Wanlan purchased the site – a 1905 converted warehouse that sits at the corner of Espee and Chancellor Avenues.

A former punk rock music venue, the property has been the subject of debate between owner Michael Malin, known to many as Mykee Ramen, and city officials who moved to shut down the club after failed safety inspections sparked fear in the wake of Oakland's Ghost Ship fire in 2016.

In January, a fire tore through the structure, ending any possibility of Malin rehabilitating the aging building due to both the expense and continued strife with city officials over abatement issues.

Following the fire, Malin launched a GoFundMe to raise money for the much-needed repairs. But the campaign fell short, and the damage from the blaze turned out to be the last chapter in the long saga for the former underground music hot spot.

In a video posted to his GoFundMe, Malin expressed heartbreak over the fire and his uncertain future. “My house went up in flames. I need help avoiding homelessness and rebuilding my life,” Malin said, detailing the ongoing battle between himself and the city.

Malin said the city had already demanded repairs he couldn’t afford. He also claimed that prior to the fire, officials had blocked him from selling the property, which served as both his residence and a punk rock venue for nearly two decades.

“It never ends. There was a deal to sell the property, but the city shot it down. Now a fire,” Malin said in frustration.

However, Director of Community Development Lina Velasco said that while the building was red-tagged due to unsafe conditions, the city had not restricted its sale.

“We support a sale to a buyer willing to bring the property into compliance,” Velasco said. “Currently, the city’s outside legal counsel is working closely with the owner and his real estate agents to work out these compliance issues and get a sale facilitated.”

In 2018, the City of Richmond launched a receivership program to rehabilitate abandoned, substandard, and nuisance properties that pose health and safety hazards to the community and public.

According to a recent staff report, the City of Richmond has reached a compliance agreement for a commercial property that officials say posed extreme fire hazards similar to those found at Oakland’s Ghost Ship warehouse before the deadly 2016 fire.

The report did not name Burnt Ramen but indicated the property has been sold to a "buyer committed to addressing the hazards and bringing the site into full compliance with fire and safety codes." The agreement also ensures that the City will be reimbursed approximately $15,000 for costs related to nuisance abatement efforts.

Malin’s message on GoFundMe offers a deeper look into the personal toll the last several years have taken on him:

"I’m devastated and asking for support. This last weekend my house went up in flames. I need help avoiding homelessness and rebuilding my life.
My warehouse Burnt Ramen Studios (Richmond, CA) started hosting punk shows in 1998. It was a mainstay of San Francisco Bay Area music and culture and arguably the longest-running underground DIY venue in the USA.

In 2016, a fire at an Oakland warehouse, the "Ghost Ship," resulted in 36 deaths. Some were friends of ours. While still reeling from the loss, twelve Richmond City employees were sent in with marching orders to throw the book at us. My friends and I were instantly kicked to the streets. A huge effort was made to comply with the city’s demands. In the end, it proved to be too much. I wish to express my gratitude to those who supported us, and it saddens me that we couldn’t bring it back.

Last year, I made the difficult decision to sell Burnt Ramen. I had an offer from a buyer, but the city effectively killed the deal.
Then last Sunday, 1/13/2025, a fire started on the Espee St sidewalk. It spread through a boarded window into the house and caused massive damage.

The city won’t let me fix the property and won’t let me sell it either. Demolition could cost as much as $100K. I am broken and numbed by this experience. I need to start over. I learned so much from my time running Burnt Ramen. I wish to again be of service to a vibrant, creative community. Help me with whatever you feel is reasonable. With your support I can rebuild better, more resilient and with a higher vibration.
Thank you for your time. May your lives be filled with friends, music and laughter."

Now that the sale of the property has been finalized for $338,000, the future of the 120-year-old warehouse-style building is in the hands of new owners. What becomes of the iconic battered structure remains to be seen. But for many, Burnt Ramen's legacy symbolizes Richmond’s artistic DIY spirit and the tenuous balance between creativity, code enforcement, and safety."

Grandview reached out to Michael Malin, but has not yet received a reply.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. 

If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting local journalism with a Grandview Independent subscription. Click to see our monthly and annual subscription plans.
Copyright © 2025 Grandview Independent, all rights reserved.