RUMFORD – Wing Szeto and several of his employees are working long hours each day trying to renovate the former Fortune Island Chinese Restaurant in time for a planned Nov. 15 opening.
Szeto, of Skowhegan, recently leased the former Chinese restaurant from the Chen family, which closed the eatery a few months ago. The Chen family of Wilton has operated the Fortune Fountain Restaurant in Farmington for more than 20 years.
Szeto said by telephone on Thursday that his family owns the Golden Garden Restaurant in Waterville and the Golden Wok Restaurant in Skowhegan. He wants to own his own restaurant, he said.
The new venture will be named King Wok. Szeto said the restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and supper.
Seth Carey, of Carey and Associates law firm in downtown Rumford, is helping Szeto through the permit procedure.
He said on Thursday that renovations include new first-floor handicapped-accessible restrooms, and seating for about 80 people in the Congress Street front section of the restaurant. The menu will be traditional and not include a Chinese buffet.
Also, he said at least five or six people will be employed at the site.
He said renovations are also being made to the rear section of the restaurant, and that tentative plans are to use it for meetings and other gatherings. No time frame for the use of the back section has yet been determined.
Before the purchase of the 105 Congress St. location in the late summer of 2003 by the Chen family, the restaurant was home to Freddie’s Restaurant for more than 65 years. The local Pomerleau family were the owners.
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