While home, I found out some sad news: my parents will be closing their restaurant, Shen Yang, next week. Though it’s been around for a few years, I guess it didn’t make financial sense to keep the doors open… and so they’re closing things down after the New Year.
My dad mentioned a few folks who have contacted him about buying/renting the space, so that’s promising. All in all, my main worry is less about the space and the property, and about what my parents will be doing now in all their spare time. While I think there will be a lot of paperwork and loose ends for the next month or two, my folks will suddenly be in a position where… they won’t be working.
For as long as I can remember, they’ve always had a hand in the restaurant business. They had their own restaurant called The Golden Dragon in Greenbrier Plaza from when I was born to about when I went to college. And the current restaurant (Shen Yang), located near Lafayette Square Mall, has been around in a few different incarnations: previously, it was The Golden Phoenix, and also called Yummy’s for a brief while. All of those restaurants, my parents either ran or helped run.
The restaurant has been a staple, a mainstay of nearly ever visit I make back home. When the cousins and relatives all gather together, there’s no question where we’ll go to eat: we go to the restaurant. It’s at a point where nearly all the cousins joke about it when we get together, as it’s simply the easiest place to go (and the closest place for my grandma to visit).
Thinking about next year, I have no idea what we’ll do for food, or where we’ll end up. Craziness.
My sister and I have always grown up with restaurants. As kids, we would run laps around the tables in the dining areas. As a teenager, I was a busboy, a waiter, a cashier, took takeout orders, I was a dishwasher. Like my parents, restaurants have always been a part of my life… up until now.
As for my folks, I can only assume they’ll be travelling a great deal. I inherited their crazy work ethic, where I end up defining a lot of who I am based on what it is I do. They’ve always been working, always had jobs, and I suspect that my dad would keep on working until he was 150 if he could.
Though it’s a sad ending, in a way I’m happy that this portion of their lives is closing. My folks have worked many, many years, long and hard years, and it’s about time they kicked back a bit and spent more of their days relaxing, and less of them working.
View of the front of the restaurant.
Front doors, facing Georgetown Road.
Detail of the door handles. I think these guys have been around since The Golden Phoenix days.
View of the front entryway, on first walking in.
The stone goldfish pond by the front door.
A small waiting area, complete with a few local magazine mentions/articles/awards.
Hard to believe that this will be my final Dim Sum meal at the restaurant.
After the meal, everyone saying goodbye.
Despite the news of the restaurant closing, there was a bit of pretty fantastic news. My cousin Ellen and her boyfriend David got engaged! I was happy that we were all able to get together at the restaurant to celebrate the good news, even if this would be our last family meal at Shen Yang.
My mom and dad, posing on the floor of Shen Yang.
Related:
Dim Sum at Shen Yang Restaurant
Meet the Family (Lazy Susan Cam)
Noooo! This is so sad! We always mention Yummy’s when we drive through Indianapolis! We never got to try any of these restaurants, but the photos look beautiful! I hope your parents really enjoy their time not working, though.
we were longtime customers of your parents’ place. We are so sorry to see it go. they treated us as family. I grew up in a restaurant environment too. My parents’ restaurants all closed when I was in college. I had many of the same feelings you do. Even now, when i walk near a restaurant kitchen, I feel a little remorse that I can’t just walk in, like I was able to do. I hope your parents have more time to travel and to be with family. We appreciated the hard work they did. It showed. Please give them our Regards…..The Cohen Family
What a wonderful comment to receive! I’m touched to hear how much you liked my parents’ restaurant – and incredibly happy you posted those kind words. I’ll definitely let them know!
Not sure why I ever stopped in to eat the restaraunt but it was the most unique great tasting Oriental food I’ve EVER tasted. I still drive by just to see if they’ve reopened! Anyone know where else in Indy I can get something that comes close???
Please let me know!!!
I hadn’t eaten there in awhile, but we did enjoy the restaurant. I just wrote a review for TripAdvisor when I found that you had closed. The west side is becoming an ethnic food playground. I wish you and your parents the best. Cheers, Julian