Tsing Tao owners pass it on

Forty-four years on, the family behind Tsing Tao, a Mandarin Chinese restaurant in Wilmette, is moving on.

But the restaurant is not.

Richard Sun, whose parents Chih and Mei Sun opened Tsing Tao in 1980, told The Record that it was the right time for his family to make a change, and they have a deal in place to sell the business and building at 537 Green Bay Road.

“We are glad. The restaurant is better than ever before,” he said. “The only sad thing is saying goodbye to people we’ve known for so long. There are families who have literally been coming here for 44 years. They’ve been with us from the day we opened until now.”

The Village of Wilmette confirmed that Wilmette property owner Cameel Halim is acquiring the business and building and plans to keep Tsing Tao open.

Sun said that the restaurant will temporarily close for the transition by the end of February.

Halim owns other nearby properties on Green Bay Road, such as 637 Green Bay Road, the former home to Lawrence Deans bakery and Wilmette Pet Shop; and 111 Green Bay Road, where the Greek restaurant Taverna Naxos opened in 2023.

Aside from its nearly half-century in business, Tsing Tao holds another special place in Wilmette history. It reportedly secured the Village’s first liquor license. Wilmette — and most North Shore communities — was a dry town for decades after prohibition ended. But back in 1980, the Sun family was granted liquor license No. 001 by the Village.

Sun said leaving Tsing Tao is “bittersweet,” but he and his family are glad that Halim plans to keep the restaurant.

“It’s very nice that they’ll carry on the tradition,” he said. “…It has such a great history and is part of the family. We grew up in the restaurant and with the community and have made so many friends through the years.

“Being a part of the community; I think that’s the best thing out of it.”

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