Lydia Chang Photo Contributed
Last month within a hundred yard radius in Arlington, Mother’s Macaroons closed. Baskin Robbins closed. And then Peter Chang opened.
Chang opened a restaurant in the Harrison Shopping Center six weeks ago. Why Arlington? Lydia Chang explains her father chose Arlington because local diners are known to appreciate eclectic dishes; they are gastronomic risk takers.
But it was for more than one reason that Peter Chang came to Harrison Street. According to his daughter, who has been in charge of getting the Arlington location running, Peter Chang has wanted to open in Northern Virginia for a long time: he has been looking for a site for over a year. He knew the locals wouldn’t shy away from his favorite dishes: pork belly, pigs trotters, and tripe. Also, he wanted a place that he could move into in a hurry.
He had started training staff for a new restaurant as early as November and now, he wanted to make the move. It was important to find a location with a kitchen ready to use. “That’s Peter Chang,” said his daughter. “He is a man in a hurry, a man who does things spontaneously.”
In February, Peter Chang called his daughter in Fredericksburg and said he was getting ready to set up a new restaurant. She didn’t think it would happen that fast … but a few days later he walked into the Chinese restaurant on Harrison Street and asked if they’d like to sell. He began negotiations to sign a lease right away. When the landlord didn’t want to sign right away, Peter Chang negotiated and bought the remainder of the tenant’s lease. He signed on March 1.
Peter Chang told his daughter she had 10 days to get the restaurant ready. They found out Sunday night; Monday they were tearing out carpets and tiles and cleaning. Lydia Chang talks about the process: health, zoning, alcohol, buying the linens, hiring new help, training the staff.
Was Peter Chang right about Arlington? Lydia Chang says he was. The restaurant has been busy from the day it opened, in six weeks outgrossing all the other restaurants Peter Chang opened, with the Richmond restaurant a close second. On average the new restaurant serves about 50 guests on a weekday lunch, and 100-150 guests on a weekday night, not including carryout orders. On the weekend, Peter Chang serves over 200 orders.
Peter Chang’s vision for the restaurant is to provide affordable fresh fish, meat, and vegetables with a consistent high-end taste. He doesn’t want to raise prices even though Arlington’s rents and costs of doing business are relatively high. Other than the Rockville restaurant, which opened recently, Lydia Chang says her father doesn’t plan to open more formal restaurants at this time. He has a vision for a more casual “Sichuan Wok” type fast Chinese food places in the area, with less focus on service.
Peter Chang: 2503 N. Harrison Street, Arlington. Open Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. -3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. , Saturdays 11:30 a.m. to 1030 p.m. and Sundays 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. See www.peterchangarlington.com