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Chi Chop + Kung Fu Tea looks to succeed where others failed

 
Ninja chicken and slush drinks are two of the featured items at Chi Chop and Kung Fu Tea in Riverview. ERIC VICIAN | Special to the Times
Ninja chicken and slush drinks are two of the featured items at Chi Chop and Kung Fu Tea in Riverview. ERIC VICIAN | Special to the Times
Published Sept. 21, 2018

RIVEVIEW – Amy Lin knows that her newest Chi Chop + Kung Fu Tea store is in a location where previous businesses have not lasted.

The short-lived Tap's Brewhouse & Deli and even shorter-lived Top Shelf Sports Bar and Grill tried to renovate a former bank footprint at 5914 Providence Road, Riverview over the past few years. She believes that her experience in property investment and in running four other Kung Fu Tea franchises will help her and her two business partners grow the brand throughout Florida. Lin, who moved from China to Clearwater when she was 18, opened Florida's first Kung Fu Tea near the University of South Florida in 2014.

Last month she brought the concept to the SouthShore area, with a few twists. In addition to serving classic teas (like green, oolong and black) using leaves that are fresh brewed for three hours, Kung Fu Tea also serves new mike teas, punch like honey lemonade and slush drinks like mocha. Lin brought only the most popular beverages from the more than 60 on the menu at the original Fowler Avenue store and she added a full food menu, the so called Chi Chop with hibachi, grilled and fried chicken entrees.

"I'm interesting, so I tried to do everything,' Lin said about renovating everything from the menu to the dining room. "I think it looks better."

The fast casual atmosphere allows patrons to place their order where the bar used to be for the last two businesses, and take a number to newly-designed seating areas where the food is delivered to them. Lin said she installed sunset blocking divider walls and spent a lot of time and money on the color scheme, tables, chairs and upgraded bench seating.

"I spent a lot for the furniture so customers can relax and be more comfortable," she said. "So the customers can enjoy not just the food only."

The new Japanese Hibachi fare starts at $9.95 for the chicken and increases for beef, shrimp and salmon options. Starters include fried calamari for $8.50 and a different fried experience with the Ninja chicken cutlet forr $8.50. Chi Chop takes an extra large, 12-ounce bone in chicken, flattens and deep fries it. If you like spice, ask for additional pepper powder.

Lin has plans to open more Chi Chop and Kung Fu Tea locations in Largo, Sarasota and St. Petersburg. She said all her restaurants will feature three pillars of success that she feels are important for the customer: "fresh, clean and service."

Visit facebook.com/cckftriverview/ to see what she is referring to or stop into her newest store – she thinks it will be around for a while.

''I think it's a good location for me because of our products," Lin said. "I like this area."

Caribbean cafe adds frozen meal offerings

Perhaps you've picked up one of their sauces in a booth at a show or event all over Florida, or grabbed a meal earlier this year at Hey Mon's Caribbean Café's newest location at 213 Kingsway Road, Brandon, F. Well now you can take a meal home for later as the Caribbean/American restaurant recently announced it is offering frozen meals.

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Call your order in, drive to the side entrance and pick it up in approximately 10 minutes – hot or cold. Call (813) 502-5710. Also visit facebook.com/HeyMonsCafe/to see what event Hey Mon's will attend next

SHARE YOUR NEWS: If you have an item for Everybody's Business, contact Eric Vician at ericvician@yahoo.com.