Sad but true. We had one really superb restaurant here in town that we often took customers to for dinner when they visited to conduct design reviews, contract negotiations, etc. but Mom and Pop decided to pack it in a year ago and retire to Florida; the kids were not interested in the restaurant biz so they shut it down, and now the place is vacant.Unfortunately, it's not just Chinese restaurants. It is all too common in non-franchised restaurants. I've known quite a few very successful mom and pop places that lasted only one or maybe two generations. The kids get educated and go off to college never to return.
I have my fingers crossed: the building is being renovated and the "word on the street" is that a new restaurant will be opening there some time this year. We'll see.Sometimes they can sell the business but invariably it does not survive the transition to new owners.
When I worked in Asia my wife would get her nails done at one of those classic nail salons. I didn't speak too much of the local lingo but I understood a lot more. The customer gossip was hilarious until I dropped a few words to let them know I was in on some of the jokes.Meantime he is busy eating it.
Who wants to work for $5.00/hour + half of a tips. Wash dishes to 1:30am.the kids didn't want to be in the food biz.
That problem isn't limited to Chinese restaurants. I went to lunch at a hotel restaurant in Santa Clara with some colleagues. One lady ordered a spinach salad and there were worms in the dressing. They had the nerve to ask her if she wanted them to bring her another. She decided to have something that was cooked.Of course, we didn't advertise the source, but everyone in the lab knew where the poorly washed lettuce was consumed.
by Jake Hertz
by Aaron Carman
by Duane Benson