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Vivienne Chow

Soaring rents and increasing labour costs are putting a well-known restaurant out of business, while a second is planning to close for renovation to attract more customers.
The Press Room bar and restaurant on Hollywood Road will close on Friday after eight years of operation.
Its owner, the Press Room Group, said yesterday that "due to increasing commercial rents in the area", the business has been forced to close its doors.
The group is also closing another of its restaurants on Thursday for renovation.
The Pawn - located in an historic tong lau, or tenement building, in Johnston Road, Wan Chai, where the original Woo Cheong Pawn Shop stood - opened in 2007 after the site was revitalised under a scheme by the Urban Renewal Authority.
The restaurant is selling its contents this Saturday and Sunday and plans to reopen in October.
"Pawning the Pawn" will take place from 11am to 6pm. Some 20 per cent of the sale proceeds will go to Liberty Asia, a charity that works to end slavery.
Food critic and restaurateur Lau Kin-wai said running a food and beverage business in Hong Kong was getting tougher not only because of increasing rent, but also because of rising labour costs.
"You can't hire staff even if you are willing to pay," he said.
Lau, who shut down his famous Chinese restaurant Yellow Door in Central a few months ago, said: "If you do well, landlords put up the rent to a level that you can't afford to run the business.
"Staff cost not only more but we just can't get anyone to do the job. From dishwashing to wait staff, I estimate the industry needs another 10,000 labourers."
He said young people didn't want to get into the business today because of its tough nature.
"There are more supply and demand [problems] for restaurants. It's very hard to succeed," he said.
 


The Press Room forced to close as high rents push Hong Kong restaurants out of business

The Press Room bar and restaurant on Hollywood Road will close on Friday after eight years of operation. Photo: Edmond So


News

Hong Kong

Soaring rents and increasing labour costs are putting a well-known restaurant out of business, while a second is planning to close for renovation to attract more customers.
