By Sara Beth Williams–
A local Chinese restaurant which has operated in the city for 24 years, closed its doors officially on Tuesday Sept. 15 due to the couple retiring, as well as unresolved repairs and a reported rent increase.
Beijing Gourmet, located on Tupelo Drive behind Stones Gambling Hall, in the former Albertsons shopping center, posted a sign on their front window expressing a “heartfelt” thank you to the community for 24 years of “good food and great memories.”
“We want to thank each and every one of you for your support, loyalty, and friendship throughout the years. From family dinners to quick takeout, birthdays to everyday meals, thank you for letting us be a small part of your lives,” the letter said, signed by family and staff of the restaurant.
Anna, the restaurant’s manager, called the surrounding community “like family,” and said she greatly appreciates all of the support that customers have given the restaurant during the last several days once the closure was announced.
By Monday afternoon, the only staff that remained were Anna and the cooking staff, as the front of the house seating was no longer available for customers. The cooking staff were available for takeout orders on Monday.
Management also alleged the decision to close comes following a reported 40 percent increase in rent that did not allow the restaurant to continue to sustain itself financially.
Anna also reported that the restaurant’s air conditioning had not been operational all summer and requests for repairs had been reportedly ignored by property management. In the dining area where chairs sat in stacks off to the side, a very large portable fan unit could be seen running during the restaurant’s last day of service.
Additionally, Anna showed The Sentinel a dripping pipe just inside the kitchen entry way, which was pouring a steady stream of water. She said that the leaking began three weeks ago, and that the request for repair was also ignored by the property management company.
“It’s very sad,” Anna said of the restaurant’s impending closure, but noted that the couple who owned the restaurant was of retirement age and were ready to retire. She herself plans to look for work somewhere close by as she appreciates the “small town” sense of community in the area.
Beijing Gourmet was located at 6432 Tupelo Drive, Site C.
