By Popular Demand: Food At City Jae's
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| from left, Lisa Bresett, Sarah Gaffey, Jae Chung,Patty Boynton, and Crystal Squire at a Jae's Inn Aveda salon venue. [Photo by Sue Bush] |
Restaurateur and businessman Jae Chung plans to offer a sushi bar and a spa menu at the city-based 1111 South State St. Jae's Inn.
Authenticity
<L2>The menu is being devised with foods that complement a full-service spa operating at the inn and a full-service Aveda salon that is expected to open by late June, Chung said during an on-site interview today.
The menu may include Korean barbecue, he said.
"I want to make the foods as authentic as possible, and I want to have some fun with it," he said.
In 2006, Chung announced the closing of the city inn's restaurant.
The operation was moved to the former Le Jardin restaurant in Williamstown, and that establishment opened earlier this year as Jae's Inn Williamstown.
Aveda Salon
Chung focused on a full-service spa at the city inn and was also selected by the Aveda company to operate a hair styling and manicure and pedicure salon that will use Aveda skin and hair care products as well as Aveda make-up exclusively.
Aveda products are considered as among the best of the beauty industry line. The opportunity to operate an Aveda salon is granted by the company after careful review and consideration, Chung said. The salon will sell Aveda products as well.
"I am very proud of this," he said. "Patty Boynton and I really worked hard to get this together. [Aveda executives] do not give this opportunity to just anybody. This is something that will be very wonderful for North Adams, to have a salon like this."
Construction is nearly finished at the inn, and the spa has been operating throughout the renovation process. The salon area is fully stocked with an abundance of the Aveda product line including make-up and hair-color sample swatches. Chung pointed to an area that will host styling stations, and manicure and pedicure areas. The yet-to-be installed countertops will be marble, he said.<R3>
"It will be beautiful," he said.
"I Want The People Of North Adams To Enjoy This"
Three rooms are being built to accommodate additional spa patrons, and a dining area is outfitted with tables and chairs and coffee and tea stations.
"I do not want this to be a private club," Chung said emphatically. "I want to make it affordable here. I want the public to be able to come and have this experience. I want the people of North Adams to enjoy this. And I really want my North Adams business to be successful. It would be so good for the area."
Area residents were not shy about letting him know that they wanted dining opportunities brought to the city inn, Chung said.
"And I have the Jae's [restaurants]that I operate in Boston, and the people expect all Jae's [businesses] to be consistent," he said.
"I Love North Adams"
Chung is a graduate of Drury High School and has close personal ties to the Northern Berkshires, he said.
<L4>"My mother is buried in Williamstown and I love North Adams," he said. "I will be spending more time [in the Berkshires] and much more time here in North Adams. I have always come back here, it's important to me. I like to see all my old friends, friends from school."
Chung employs area residents at the city inn and the Williamstown establishment and said that his employees are a very significant component of the business success.
"I have a wonderful crew," Chung said.
Licensed esthetician Patty Boynton is the spa manager. Spa services include facials, body wraps, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, aromatherapy massage and trigger point massage. Services such as "buff-and-bronze" are also available at the spa.
Lisa Bresett is the inn's front desk manager, and Crystal Squire is a member of the housekeeping team. Sarah Gaffey is a spa licensed massage therapist.<R5>
Chung's all-alcoholic beverage license is expected to be reviewed during tonight's city License Commission meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Additional information about Jae's Inn and Jae's Inn Williamstown is available at a www.jaesinn.com Internet web site. Additional information about Aveda products and salons is available at a www.aveda.com Internet web site.
