New Thriving owners building fast food outlet, `banquette restaurant
By STACEY BESS
OWNERS of the New Thriving Restaurant, which was razed May 6, last year when fire swept through the Main Street, Georgetown location, are preparing to dish up more sumptuous Chinese food.
Guang Zhaoxiao and Jianping Che are working towards a St. Valentine's Day opening of its Fast Food Outlet now under construction at the corners of Brickdam and Camp Streets in the City.
They are also to refurbish the Liberty Cinema on Vlissengen Road, also in the City. A `banquette restaurant' is planned for that location.
For Zhaoxiao and Che, New Thriving connotes "continuous development." Thus, it would have been out of their character to be crushed by the Main Street conflagration.
The establishing of these eating houses was financed through a Demerara Bank loan and the investors' personal funds.
Mrs Che told Sunday Chronicle in a recent interview: "No matter where or when, you have to eat. And in investing in an eating house you can never loose."
Having started the New Thriving tradition in China, 20 years ago, this Chinese couple is now making an investment of over US$1.1M in the local restaurant industry. The destroyed restaurant was worth US$330 000.
New Thriving Banquette Restaurant is due for opening between April and May this year. It is expected to cost US$900,000. The structure will be three storeys of Chinese design. According to Che, the Chinese construction team that is currently working on the Chinese Embassy will build the Banquette Restaurant. She said that construction materials are being shipped here from China.
According to Che, the external structure of Liberty will be retained, but some parts will be extended. A roof garden will occupy the southern side of the building (facing Garnett Street) on the middle floor; the ground floor will house an open kitchen; the middle floor will be for dining; and private and conference rooms will be located on the top floor.
Private and conference rooms will cater for large groups interested in holding private parties, business meetings and other such functions. These self-contained rooms will be furnished with television, VCR, air-conditioning and a mini-bar. Food can also be catered for those using the rooms.
Mrs Che said that one room would be named Liberty in honour of the Guyanese people. The decor of the room is to embrace Guyanese culture.
The Banquette Restaurant is to have a seating capacity of 500, utilising the top and middle floors and the roof garden. For cocktails 1 000 to 1 200 can be accommodated.
The Chinese construction team is expected to start work next month.
The general atmosphere will be Chinese but Guyanese and Caribbean designs will be incorporated.
The Banquette New Thriving Restaurant will employ about 60 locals. Persons who are attractive, have no criminal record, have a sound secondary education, and a sociable outlook will qualify for employment.
The New Thriving Fast Food Outlet is being constructed to the tune of US$250,000. The outlet will reflect the mode of operation of fast food businesses in Hong Kong, Japan and America.
The principal idea is "fast and reasonable," Che said. New Thriving Fast Food will be a two-storeyed restaurant. Those who wish to dine will utilise the second floor in buffet style. On the ground floor, patrons can make take away orders.
Che said that if business is good another storey would be added to New Thriving Fast Food.
Mrs. Che has developed her Chinese culinary skills over two decades, starting in China when she was just 23 years old. She attended food preparation schools. Her training and experience have enabled her to tutor Guyanese cooks in the preparation of Chinese food.
Since the fire last May, New Thriving chefs and waiters have been sharpening their skills at New Kwang Chow Restaurant in Kitty.
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