Chinese restaurant to close Sunday

A popular Chinese restaurant in downtown Greybull, Lan’s Beijing Garden is closing at the end of the week.
Lan Kang, who took over the restaurant after the passing of her husband Denny in 2020, says it’s her only option, pointing out that her cook and friend Martin Tang is returning to China and that she’s been unable to hire anyone to replace him.
“It’s sad,” she said. “I’ve been here for a while and the community’s been very nice to me.”
Beijing Garden opened in September 2009 under the ownership of Denny Kang.  He ran it by himself for several years before he and Lan met and she moved here in 2014.  They married early the next year and they ran the business together until his death in March 2020.  Since then, she’s been at the helm.
“It’s very difficult to hire a cook,” she said.  “Martin wants to go back to China to see his mom. She is 94.  Because of COVID, he hasn’t been able to go, so he wanted to take some time off.  I asked him if he thought he’d want to come back.  He said he couldn’t promise.”
The restaurant’s last day will be Sunday, Oct. 8.
Beyond that, Lan said she isn’t sure what the future holds for her.
“I’ve really liked living in Greybull, I’ve liked my job and I’ve liked talked with customers,” she said.
Lan lives rent-free in a room on the backside of the restaurant.  The building is still under the ownership of Denny Kang, but it’s been put up for sale. If it sells, the proceeds will be used to pay off his remaining medical bills.
“I have no plan ... it’s just happened so sudden,” she said. “It wasn’t my plan to close. I’m only doing it because I can’t find someone to help me.  I’ll stick around — unless the building sells.  Then I’ll have to move.”
She mentioned Toronto as a possible destination, as its home to her two children. She has a son who will soon turn 23 and a daughter who will soon be 17.
With a smile, she asked us to convey a message: “Please tell everyone thank you for supporting us over the years.”