According to zoning documents, co-owner Linda Chen is selling the building to Burlington’s Youkel architecture firm. The latter business chose not to comment at this time.
But Chen says she and her brother, Peter Chuong, had the building, which they’ve owned since 1987, up for sale for about a year. The pair finally decided to retire, adds Chuon’s son, Ben Chen, who left his own Boston restaurants in 2011 to revitalize the Winooski business. “They’ve been here forever. It’s a good time to start a new life,” he said.
Ben Chen says that Chuong and Linda Chen will travel, visiting family and friends in China before settling near him and his own young family in Boston. As for the young restaurateur, who introduced Korean and Thai food to the traditional Chinese-American menu, he says he’ll take a month off to decompress before deciding on his next move. He’s not yet sure whether that move will be back into the restaurant business or as an entrepreneur in another field.
The family will say their final goodbyes to loyal customers with a private party on Sunday. According to Ben Chen, the event is about celebrating 27 good years in the business, not saying goodbye. “It’s a good time to go. Everyone was happy,” he says.
Still, locals are sure to miss their Scorpion Bowls and bibimbap.
Correction: Updated 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 to reflect how the family members are related.
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Linda Chen and Peter Chuong are SIBLINGS. Ben Chen is Peter’s godson.
Please make the correction that Linda Chen and Peter Chuong are siblings***
They are my aunt and uncle.
Ben Chen is actually Peter’s godson.
Ben, follow your heart and mind to whatever your next business venture may be…but if you decide to open a restaurant with those great Korean dishes you added to the Peking Duck menu (especially the amazing bibimbap), I guarantee I’ll be both a regular customer and an evangelist for the restaurant!
Thank you, Linda and Peter, for a consistently excellent dining experience. You and your restaurant will be greatly missed!
Jim Condon and family
Colchester
It’s not fair! Since 1987 I have had this special place to celebrate life. Of course, I wish the best to this amazing hard working family but I will not go down with another crispy shrimp.
Thank you for the wonderful meals and fine service! Bless you in your new life!
Louise,
Thank you for catching that! We’ve made those changes.
You brought us wonderful food, lovely dinners, and much happiness. We wish you good health, great fortune, and much happiness! Luci (for the Reed family)
Many good memories. Our family grew up with this restaurant, and I never had a bad meal there. Much warmth and laughter. I wish good luck to the owners and their family in whatever they may do next.
I’m just discovering this news today and I am saddened to hear it. My wife and I had our very first date at Peking Duck. Obviously it went well as we’re approaching our 20th wedding anniversary soon. We even held our wedding rehearsal dinner party there so we could share the great place where it all started with our friends and family. We’ve since moved away which is why we’re hearing the news long after the doors have closed. I’m going to have the break the news gently to my wife tonight.