Kowloon Restaurant

Kowloon Restaurant, described as America's largest Asian dining complex , is on busy "Restaurant Row" along Route 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts. Visiting the restaurant is a tradition for many New England families on birthdays and anniversaries. It is also considered a top destination for fans of tiki culture and has been a stop on organized tours.[1][2]

After three generations of ownership by the same family the restaurant has grown several times and a large range of Cantonese, Szechuan, Sushi, Polynesian, Japanese, and Thai cuisines are served in several themed dining rooms and lounges. Kowloon was called one of the very best Chinese restaurants in New England by Boston television station WHDH in 2004.[3]

History

Kowloon Restaurant, 2008

The Mandarin House restaurant opened August 22, 1950, in a converted ice cream parlor on the Newburyport Turnpike with a menu of a few dozen Chinese and American dishes. The dining room could hold 40-50 customers.

In 1958 Madeline and Bill Wong bought out the first generation owners and began the second generation of family ownership of the restaurant. They changed the name to Kowloon Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge and began to grow the business.

In the next 50 years the family added five additions to the original building and increased the capacity to accommodate 1,200 customers. Diners can choose from a number of themed dining rooms including the Volcano Bay Room, the Tiki Lagoon, the Mandarin Room, the Thai Grille, or the Hong Kong Lounge. Private events and a comedy club use the Luau Room.

The menu has grown as the restaurant has added new dishes to keep up with the evolving American palate. First Polynesian dishes, then more Chinese when Nixon went to China, even more Chinese when Szechuan became popular, then Thai, and then Japanese and sushi. Guests now choose from a menu of nearly 300 items.[4]

In 2001 Madeline and Bill Wong were inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Fame by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.[5] The restaurant has also been nominated for addition to the Inventory of Cultural and Historical Resources by the Saugus Historical Commission.[6] Bill Wong died in 2011 at the age of 88.[7]

Visitors will always find a family member at the restaurant as the third generation of the Wong family continues to run this independent business. The restaurant is reported to bring in over $8 million per year as the top-grossing Chinese restaurant in the United States.[8][9]

Bobby Wong has also parlayed his restaurant success into a successful men's hockey league franchise. "Kowloon Hockey" won its first championship in 1977 in the Saugus Hockeytown league; but the franchise fell on hard times in the 80's and 90's. After several disappointing years, Wong stepped in and signed Sean "Freeze" Smith of Everett and that; changed everything for the franchise. Sean and Bobby recruited a line-up of "Loonies" that would go to win several Milk-Jugs from 2004-current. Bobby knows how to recruit and motivate his players in way nobody has ever seen in sports. At a sports owners meeting in 2002, Bobby told Bob Kraft of the Patriots that sneakers with suits was a "good look", as he was wearing his Mizuno sneakers with his Hugo-boss suit. It should be noted that Bob Kraft has not worn shoes with a suit since. Several sports franchise owners cite Bobby as a mentor and icon; and rightfully so with his resume of championships and delicious chicken fingers. Bobby can be credited with inventing the "umbrella power play" witch he drew up with an actual umbrella from a House Mai-Tai in a post-game meal with the Loonies. you cant put the man in a corner and say he is a tremendous restaurateur, because when you look at his sport ownership resume you may say he is the most successful owner in sports.

References

  1. DiNardo, Kelly (2007-08-03). "10 great places to carry a torch for Tiki bars". USA Today.
  2. Reynolds, Josh (2007-05-04). "South Seas chic". The Boston Globe.
  3. "New England's Best". WHDH-TV Boston. 2004-03-05.
  4. Schaffer, Matt (2000-11-29). "Chinese Eatery Celebrates 50th Anniversary". The Boston Herald.
  5. McCabe, Kathy (2001-11-25). "Kowloon Owners Inducted into Hall". The Boston Sunday Globe.
  6. "William Wong". The Boston Globe. 2011-08-09.
  7. Miller, Bryan (1988-04-06). "Oh, to Dine in Saugus, Mass". The New York Times.
  8. Sheridan, Margaret (2000-04-01). "2000 Top 100: Technology upgrades help independents hone operations and buy more time for guests". Restaurants & Institutions magazine.

External links

Coordinates: 42°28′4.08″N 71°1′29.78″W / 42.4678000°N 71.0249389°W / 42.4678000; -71.0249389

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