Dave and Sui retiring after ‘30 happy years’
A popular Chinese takeaway in Sunderland has closed its doors after more than 30 ‘happy’ years after the owners retired from their service.
Siu, 63 and Dave Shek, 61, owners of GMTS Chinese Takeaway on Dundas Street in Sunderland have finally closed their doors after more than 30 years.
The couple have now retired after years of ‘hard work’ at their Sunderland takeaway shop.
Dave, who co-owned the shop with his wife said the couple who met as school children moved from Hong Kong to the UK when they were 11-years-old.
He said: “Myself and my wife were school friends and we moved to Edinburgh from Hong Kong when we were kids and then moved to Sunderland after around 15 years.
"We learnt new skills moving over to the UK and learnt from different experiences and that’s how we got to where we are now.”
Dave and Siu opened their first Chinese takeaway on Chester Road in 1987 before moving to Dundas Street in 1999.
The 61-year-old said:
“We’ve always had a good customer relationship with people in the community.
"And that’s the key to a good business.
"Our health can’t cope with the amount of work in the shop so we decided to retire.
"It’s been hard work and I’m just pleased we have been able to satisfy our customers for so many years.”
Dave said he learnt the skills to run his own business working in restaurants for many years before setting up his own business.
The owner says many of his customers have been coming to them for more than 30 years.
He added: “Life is what you make of it.
"So if you gain all the skills and experience you can then you can do what you want.
"We’ve had a successful business for more than 30 years.
"So if you’re friendly and serve good food then Bob’s your uncle.”
The couple now plan on taking a break before deciding on how they are going to spend their retirement.
Dave said: “We are well known by customers in the area and we’re happy because they’re happy – I am definitely retiring as a happy man.”