After 20 years of trading, Asian Pearl Restaurant owner, Lam Tang, has decided to retire at the age of 67 and close down the restaurant loved by many Glenmore Park locals.
“I will miss the residents and customers,” said Lam Tang. The family-owned restaurant traded its last day on August 13, marking the beginning of a very exciting and well-earned retirement journey for Tang.
The restaurant has been serving Glenmore Park locals their favourite Chinese dishes since August 2003. In that time, Tang has seen many regular customers grow from young children into adults. “There is a lot of emotion attached to everything here,” Lam added.
Son of the restaurant owner, Cheng Tang, who has been at the restaurant almost every weekend for the past 20 years, said that his Dad has always loved providing a service that can leave his customers feeling happy. “Cooking is his way of expressing creativity,” Cheng explained.
Lam was born and raised in Hong Kong where he worked in various jobs before moving to the Netherlands with his Mum. “His Mum ended up taking him to the Netherlands, where he started learning to be a chef,” said Cheng. At the time, the Netherlands was a very common place for people from Hong Kong to move to.
In his retirement, Lam Tang plans on travelling and winding down after a lifetime of hard work. “He is now planning on spending his retired years travelling back to Hong Kong and the Netherlands, and maybe a trip around Europe,” said Cheng.
The pandemic caused a tiring couple of years for the Asian Pearl, with restrictions causing the restaurant to constantly pause their dine-in services and change opening hours. With business now back to normal, Tang is looking forward to relaxing after two decades of hard work and dedication to his business.
Although he is sad to say goodbye to his customers and the restaurant, Lam is thankful for the constant support he has received from the Glenmore Park community over the past 20 years.
The Asian Pearl will always remain a favourite for many locals, and it will be greatly missed. Congratulations on your retirement Lam, and good luck in your future endeavours!