A longtime Rochester eatery will close its doors at the end of July with the hopes of finding a new home.
Wong's Caféhas leased space from the Rochester Elks Lodge No. 1091at 1652 U.S. 52 North in the Hillcrest Shopping Center since 2007. That lease is ending in July and Wong's has announced that July 27 will be its final day there.
Owner Phala Nheanand staff recently wrote a note of appreciation to the lodge.
"We would like to thank all of our valued customers for the years of patronage here at this location. We would also like everyone to know that once we situate ourselves in a new location, we will re-open once again to continue the Wong's tradition," they stated in the letter.
No one from Wong's was available for comment Tuesday.
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The Wong's name comes from the well-known downtown Rochester restaurant that operated at 4 Third St. SW from 1952 to 2005 under the Wong family's ownership. That spot is now occupied by the Grand Rounds Brew Pub.
In 2007, former Wong's head chef Phala Nheanacquired the business from the Wong family and re-opened it in the Hillcrest Shopping Center.
Since that time, the restaurant has operated alongside the Elks Lodge in what was previously the former Bon's Buffet and Mongolian Grill space.
Now a change is cooking for that spot.
The buzz is that another classic Rochester eatery is talking to the lodge about leasing the Wong's space. However, that deal is not done, so there are no specific plans yet. -- Jeff Kiger
