END OF AN ERA IN DINING

ASIAN EATERY’S PLAN:

BELOVED Chinese institution Cafe China will be closing its CBD doors next month.

But it won’t mean the end of the popular brand. Two new outlets are opening later this year and in 2021.

The two Reef Hotel Casino eateries, known for their Chinese New Year banquets and dependable late night satiation, will close at the end of September.

The favourites fell prey to the double body blows of a slumping Chinese market and the total international travel lockdown brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

In January, owner Harry Sou conceded his numbers were down 50 per cent on the 2019 Chinese New Year period.

“We are going to close both casino outlets at the end of September,” he said.

“Because of the pandemic, the future was too uncertain.”

The casino operations will join the Spence Street and Pier eateries that have already shut.

In 2019 the Spence St venue closed due to rain damage and a waning market.

Mr Sou said tourism was struggling and it was one of the worst seasons he had experienced in 27 years.

“We did fairly well from 2014-17 and now we are going backwards,” he said.

The news is not all bad, as Cafe China at Cairns Airport will open as planned in 2021.

Mr Sou said a new Cafe China would open by Christmas, along the same concept as the anticipated airport business.

“It will be like the noodle bar style,” he said.

However the future location of the Cafe China successor remains a closely guarded secret. The approaching lease end date for the casino tenancies forced the hand of the Chinese restaurateur.

“It was good timing,” Mr Sou said.

Casino boss Allan Tan said all ideas were being considered for the tenancies.

“We are considering the best options,” he said.