2009 Dec 18 Legation Quarter Closures: Agua, Fez Bar, Shiro Matsu
Today, Aqua Restaurant Group announced that it is closing its operations in the Legation Quarter. Spanish restaurant Agua, Japanese restaurant Shiro Matsu and both Fez Bar and Hex Bar will all cease to trade at Ch’ien Men 23.
Here is the full press release from Aqua Group:
“Since the opening of Agua, Shiro Matsu, Fez Bar and Hex Bar in Ch’ien Men 23 in 2008, we are honored by the support shown to us by the people of Beijing. Agua and Fez Bar are proud to have been named:
City Weekend Reader Awards “Best Restaurant 2009” - Agua
City Weekend Reader Awards “Best Service” - Agua
City Weekend Reader Awards “Best Chef” - Agua
Time Out Beijing (English) “Best International Cuisine” - Agua
Time Out Cocktail Shakedown “Best Bartender and Cocktail 2009” - Fez Bar
Time Out Beijing (Chinese) “Most Beautiful Bar 2009” - Fez Bar
It is with regret that our landlord at our current location Ch’ien Men 23 at 23 Qian Men Dong Da Jie, a company known as Legation Quarter Ltd., whose ultimate majority shareholder is HKC (Holdings) Ltd. in Hong Kong, has not shown us and the other tenants at Ch’ien Men 23 the same support. Legation Quarter Ltd. has consistently failed to meet its promises and commitments to us and the other tenants to maintain and manage Ch’ien Men 23 as Beijing’s premier fine dining complex resulting in damage to our businesses and day to day operations.
Legation Quarter Ltd’s behavior has reached the point where, among other things, they harass our operations by switching the power on and off at will. We are unable to operate in this hostile environment and as a result we deeply regret that we have no choice but to close our operations at Ch’ien Men 23 with immediate effect. We thank the other tenants for their support – we know they have also suffered the same problems with Legation Quarter Ltd for far too long.
We hope to reopen Agua, Shiro Matsu and Fez Bar soon in a new location and we aim to continue to serve the people of Beijing with outstanding contemporary cuisine and hip cocktails. We thank you all for your support and we look forward to announcing our new location in Beijing soon.“
Last week the Beijinger broke the story with this post on the “Legation Quarter Plight”. However, we were informed incorrectly that the power cuts at Agua were due to unpaid rent and we would like to apologize for suggesting this.
A spokesperson from the Aqua Group also wished it to be stressed that they have fulfilled all obligations to staff and all our suppliers, by not only making sure the staff have jobs to go to but that they have been paid all their benefits and salary as per labor bureau requirements.
Stay tuned to the blog as we bring you breaking news on the situation with the remaining Legation Quarter tenants.
You might also be interested in :
Legation Quarter Plight: Agua In Trouble?
Agua, the award-winning Legation Quarter restaurant helmed by Spanish chef Jordi Valles, has been closed for business for several days over the past week. The restaurant told us they are having problems with the electrics and hope to be open again soon. However, an inside source claims that the management company in charge of the complex have cut the power due to months of unpaid rent.
Another Blow For Legation Quarter: Meat & Wine Co. Closes
Days after winning our readers’ pick for "Best Steak" in the 2010 Reader Restaurant Awards, the Legation Quarter’s Meat & Wine Co. has closed its doors.
Business as usual at Ch’ien Men 23 and Legation Quarter Ltd.
Legation Quarter Ltd. and its controlling shareholder, HKC (Holdings) Ltd has adamantly denied claims made in Aqua's recent press release concerning the circumstances surrounding the impending closure of their restaurant at Ch'ien Men 23. The following is Legation Quarter Ltd.'s official press release:
Beijing Bulli: "World's Best Chef" at Nali Patio
Revolutionary chef Ferran Adria is in Beijing for a flying visit today, visiting Nali Patio's stronghold of Spanish restaurants and hosting a demonstration class at Raffles Hotel's East 33 later this afternoon. We were fortunate enough to catch the elBulli mastermind on his tour of Nali - he visited Agua, Migas, Mosto, Niajo, Carmen and Taste Spain - and got a few snaps of the man who has been variously described as cooking's Salvador Dali (Gourmet magazine), Pablo Picasso (Rafael Anson, World's 50 Best Restaurants) and, ahem, Elvis Presley (New York Times). More to come later!
New Openings: Fez Bar Opens Tonight
Once famed for its beautifully crafted cocktails, casbah-style decor and rooftop setting in the Legation Quarter, Fez Bar tonight follows in the footsteps of sibling venue Agua by opening in Nali Patio. The party starts from 5pm, which will be the bar's opening time every day.
Monkey King
Re: Legation Quarter Closures: Agua, Fez Bar, Shiro Matsu
Yet another case of high-quality venues being brought down by greedy, cheating, short-sighted landlords.
Hopefully they'll find another location soon. If nothing else, at least they've done the right thing by refusing to put up with that sh*t.
Happy New Year 2Bi! I hereby grant you early release for a month of good behavior.
Don't violate your parole though, naughty naughty!
rainhard
Re: Legation Quarter Closures: Agua, Fez Bar, Shiro Matsu
cuddos monkey king! i agree fully
CC Zhang
Re: Legation Quarter Closures: Agua, Fez Bar, Shiro Matsu
Hard to tell which side is right or whose words are true. Biz is not easy to judge.
Charlene
Chiara27
Re: Legation Quarter Closures: Agua, Fez Bar, Shiro Matsu
This venue us just perfect, we went there for New years eve, and I must say, it was very impressive ! casino sans telechargement
mandelbrot
Re: Legation Quarter Closures: Agua, Fez Bar, Shiro Matsu
Turning on and off power at will, CC Zhang, is quite clearly the action of a dirtbag landlord. No practical business reason for it...