RUMFORD – The former Freddie’s Restaurant will have a new look, new name and new menu starting next month.
The Chen family, who have owned and operated Fortune Fountain in Farmington for more than 20 years, is renovating the Congress Street business with the goal of a mid-October opening.
“This is a good location,” said Lottie Chen, owner of Fortune Fountain. “People from this area have said a new restaurant was needed.”
The family has named the new restaurant, Fortune Island, a combination of the name of the Farmington restaurant and shoppers’ island in Rumford.
Chen is helping her niece, Donna Chen, who will be manager, her nephew, Henry Chen, who will be assistant manager, and her brother-in-law, Bing Chen, who will be head chef, get the new enterprise organized. All four family members, who live in Wilton, have worked at the Farmington restaurant for a number of years. Bing was head chef at Fortune Fountain.
The restaurant will offer buffet dining as well as meal orders from the menu.
Once the new business is up and running, about 10 to 15 people will be employed. Lottie said former employees of Freddie’s Restaurant are encouraged to apply.
The front section of the restaurant is being renovated to make room for the buffet table. Some of the counters have been removed. While most cooking will be done in the kitchen, items that must be cooked fresh will be cooked on the stoves in the dining room.
The back section of the restaurant will house additional seating and space for special gatherings. About 150 people can be seated in the two sections.
The Chens plan to be open seven days a week for lunch and supper, with hours to be 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A grand opening will take place a couple of weeks after Fortune Island opens.
The Chens closed on the purchase of the longtime Rumford landmark from owner Albert Pomerleau last week.
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