Long-standing Chinese restaurant on Dundas Street West, known over the years as a go-to spot for late night bites – Hong Shing was forced to close immediately after a two-alarm fire broke out on November 29 around 10:30 a.m. that destroyed their kitchen.
"We definitely had to go through a lot this month to get Hong Shing back up and running," says owner Colin Li. "We had to find out how we can reconnect to all our utilities, and the amount of inspections we had to go through to make sure we are in good standing to reopen."
Finally managing to get takeout running again this week, the fire did more than just physical damage to the kitchen and the dining space, but it also resulted in obvious losses of revenue from diners.
"We are grateful for everyone's support throughout the process, and we thank everyone who contributes to the process of reopening," says Li. "Our team was devastated by what happened, and it came at a time when holidays were just around the corner. We are sad to have canceled our December reservations and preorders."
Closed for indoor dining still due to the increase in COVID-19 cases across the city, Hong Shing is available for takeout and delivery, seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
On track to celebrate their 25th anniversary on March 10 this year, Li isn't letting this setback get in the way. In fact, he's using the need to renovate the space in the restaurant's favour. Having to redo portions of the dining room means an updated look.
"We appreciate all the customers who have walked through our doors over the years, as we are excited for the new revamp space to bring in more people who have never heard about us before," says Li. "We are excited for the years to come as we have been staying active and listening to our customer's feedback to help us adapt to the times. Our brand is built around being part of the local community because restaurants are just an extension to our communities."
Wanting to further their reach beyond the storefront, Hong Shing also recently launched a line of merchandise. The first collection is entitled, "For The Moments" and aims to emphasize culture and community in Toronto.
Follow Hong Shing on Instagram to stay updated with their reopening journey and keep an eye out for the relaunch of their private dining VIP room that will feature exclusive DJ nights and tasting dinners.
