On 11th March 2020, Lin Heung Tea House, a 92-year-old Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong was taken back by Yan’s family, the original owner to continue the operation.
It is indeed an unprecedented winter season for the catering industry when the development of COVID-19 is currently growing in Hong Kong. In light of it, many loyal customers still scheduled to visit after the situation settles down to share the nostalgia with the old days in Lin Heung Tea House.
(Message from Danny Choi Saisan, a returned customer of Lin Heung Tea House)
Featured by serving authentic dim-sum in a traditional style, Lin Heung Tea House won a great number of customers by a series of traditional dishes such as Siu Mai (pork dumpling), Cha Siu Bao (barbecue pork buns), and Har Gow (steamed shrimp dumplings).
This was the second time for Lin Heung Tea House to witness the business handover. As early as the end of February in 2019, Lin Heung Tea House announced its impending closure.
Reluctant to see the end of the business, the existing elderly crew subsequently took up the operation and re-opened it in March, renaming from ‘Lin Heung Tea House’ (蓮香樓) into ‘Lin Heung Cafe’ (蓮香茶室). Lin Heung Cafe served morning and lunch while no dinner literally as same as the original business.
However, suffered from civil unrest during the second half of 2019 and the ongoing coronavirus outbreak since the beginning of this year, Lin Heung Cafe got through a sharp decline in sales. Meanwhile, customers’ criticism and doubts followed that the original taste was missing.
Having operated for almost one year, the management was incapable of sustaining the business anymore.
Fortunately, this century-old Chinese restaurant got its second turning point at such a difficult time. After negotiation with the landlord, Yan’s family determined to come to their rescue, taking it over and changing its name back to ‘Lin Heung Tea House’.
While faced with the current tough situation, the former elderly staff went back to their jobs and demonstrated the commitment to Lin Heung Tea House according to Apple Daily.
The owner foresaw a big loss but still took over the business and we would manage to get through it together”, said Mr.Luk, the former employee at Lin Heung Tea House.
Due to coronavirus, Lin Heung Tea House suspended its service at night which would be newly offered as planned. The owner Mr.Yan expressed his strong wish for an upcoming settlement so that the family’s business could go back on the track in the near future.
Feature image by Flickr