Jing Fong, once Chinatown’s largest restaurant, will completely vacate its space at 20 Elizabeth St. by the end of the month. The dim sum destination and banquet venue closed its 800-seat dining room back in March, promising to find a new smaller location somewhere in the neighborhood. That’s apparently happening. Claudia Leo, the restaurant’s marketing […]
Jing Fong Confirms July Reopening Will Take Place in Chinatown
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Jing Fong plans to reopen at a new location in Chinatown this July
It’s official: Chinatown’s largest restaurant is staying in Chinatown. Jing Fong, which previously announced it would be reopening at a new location this summer, has confirmed that it’s staying in the neighborhood, though its address is still unknown. The new restaurant is substantially smaller than its previous home on Elizabeth Street, marketing director Claudia Leo tells Eater, but owner Truman Lam is apparently working with an architect to recreate the ambiance of its sprawling dining room at the new 125-seat location. Executive chef Jin Ruan will continue on at the new restaurant, as well.
Customers lined up outside Jing Fong in February of 2021.
Jing Fong, once Chinatown’s largest restaurant, will completely vacate its space at 20 Elizabeth St. by the end of the month. The dim sum destination and banquet venue closed its 800-seat dining room back in March, promising to find a new smaller location somewhere in the neighborhood. That’s apparently happening. Claudia Leo, the restaurant’s marketing manager, told the New York Post that Jing Fong would move to a 125-seat spot in late June, although she did not disclose the location.
The restaurant had kept a kitchen going even after the dining room went dark to support outdoor dining, takeout and delivery. While it’s a positive sign that Jing Fong may survive in some form, the downscaling leaves Chinatown without a large banquet hall. That’s something many family associations and nonprofit groups counted on for large gatherings, especially during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Iconic Chinatown Restaurant Jing Fong Plans to Reopen in New, Smaller Space in Late June eater.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eater.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Restaurant Union Calls On Jing Fong Landlords To Keep Banquet Hall Open
arrow Jing Fong banquet hall in pre-pandemic times Nathalie Cone / Flickr
The impending closure of one of Chinatown’s largest and most popular restaurants is more than just a loss to the community, but a financial setback for the many employees who depend on their jobs there and a blow to the local economy, said a representative for the restaurant’s union.
Last month, the owners of Jing Fong banquet hall announced their plans to close March 7th after 49 years, citing the pandemic-driven loss of revenue and the inability to pay rent on its 20 Elizabeth Street lease.