China House in Coral Springs. {Google Maps}
By Kevin Deutsch
A beloved Coral Springs Chinese restaurant is being forced out of a local shopping center to make way for a replacement tenant that can attract more affluent customers, according to the restaurant’s owners.
China House, where John and Jennifer You have served up delicious Chinese dishes to hungry locals for around 20 years, must clear out of its longtime space at 5984 Coral Ridge Dr. in the Sawgrass Center by Jan. 1, 2024.
ShopCore Properties, which operates the plaza, informed the Yous that their lease would not be renewed despite running a successful business with scores of loyal patrons, according to their son Tony You, who spoke to Coral Springs Talk on his parents’ behalf.
Cherished by many residents of Parkland and Coral Springs, including numerous members of the Jewish community, wait times at China House can reach upward of two hours on Christmas. Locals consistently rate the eatery–which has survived multiple hurricanes, economic downturns, and the COVID-19 pandemic—among their favorite North Broward Chinese spots.
Despite the eatery’s devoted following, ShopCore decided China House no longer fit with its plans for the plaza, where surging rents are making it difficult for small businesses to operate, said Tony, who attempted to renew the lease on his parents’ restaurant. The shopping center is anchored by a Publix and includes medical offices, a Wells Fargo, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Juicery RX, according to ShopCore’s website.
“They said, ‘I’m sorry, we’re not going to renew the lease, the landlord has plans for this plaza, and we just don’t see your store being a part of it in the future,’” said Tony, 25, who grew up in Parkland.
“They’re looking for national tenants that have over 100 locations. From the talks I’ve had with the landlord, it seems they’re trying to make it a more affluent center for wealthier people to come and spend more money, and they’re trying to force out stores that don’t meet the requirements [of attracting affluent customers].”
ShopCore did not respond to an email from Coral Springs Talk seeking comment.
The anticipated closure of China House brings an end to an entrepreneurial success story that saw the Yous build a popular group of restaurants–the couple or their children own a total of three Chinese eateries in the area—after emigrating to the U.S. “with nothing,” their son said.
“They were immigrants from China wanting to create a better life for their children,” said Tony. “They achieved the American dream. They were basically farmers who came with nothing, and they made a name for themselves over time.”
Tony said his parents arrived in New York City after leaving China in 1995. They worked in the Chinese restaurant industry in Queens, learning how to cook dishes while gaining knowledge of restaurant operations. They moved to South Florida around 2000 and later opened China House.
The couple worked tirelessly to build a dedicated customer base in the Coral Springs-Parkland area and has kept China House open 364 days a year, closing only on Thanksgiving.
News of the restaurant’s impending closure has upset some longtime patrons.
“John and Jennifer [have] been a family friend of ours for many years now and are [some] of the hardest working people I know,” a reader who identified themselves as a China House customer told Coral Springs Talk in an email. “They are the mailman of the restaurant industry; no matter the weather or occasion, they’re always open. They’re the only store in the center that’s open on Christmas, and myself and many other families of the Jewish community [have] been going to their store for well over ten years, and it has become one of our Christmas traditions to get Chinese food from them.”
Tony said his family is “trying to look for other locations so we can maintain our customer base, but as of this time, there’s no store for us to relocate to.”
“This is probably a permanent closure of our store,” he added. “They’re being pushed out by corporate greed.”
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