HK's Ocean Empire Food Shop ceases ops after 33 years

Hong Kong-based congee restaurant chain Ocean Empire Food Shop will cease operations starting today. Meanwhile, the restaurant group will terminate all employment contracts, effective immediately.

In an internal memo to staff, Ocean Empire's executives reportedly attributed the shutdown to deteriorating business conditions and financial difficulties, according to The Standard. 

To cope with the situation, the group will shut down all remaining outlets and offices in Hong Kong, and enter creditor's voluntary liquidation. The move has drawn discussions on social media, with some saying the food quality of the restaurant is not as good as it used to be, while some said the eatery should deal with staff's compensation properly, a check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE saw on Facebook. 

Established in 1992, Ocean Empire Food Shop quickly became a go-to spot in Hong Kong for affordable and fast Chinese porridge and rice noodle dishes.

Its abrupt closure signals the end of an era for Hong Kong’s dining scene, echoing the recent shutdowns of other long-standing local restaurant chains amid tough economic times.

Most recently, Hong Kong restaurant chain Daniel’s Restaurant's last operating branch in Mei Foo announced it is closing down in late May amid the fierce competition within the food and beverage industry. 

Meanwhile, back in March, Taiwanese croissant chain Hazukido (八月堂) closed all its Hong Kong stores after seven years of operation. While in February, US egg sandwich chain Eggslut exited the Hong Kong market after less than two years, with its Causeway Bay store's last day of operation on 23 February. In the same month, Transformers: The Ark Restaurant also closed its outlet on Russell Street and will relocate to Shenzhen in May.

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