NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A city restaurant will open with a new name but familiar faces. 

 

Meng Wu "Jason" Wang and Yaling "Joy" Wang are opening the Golden Bamboo in the Berkshire Plaza on Main Street. 

 

They were approved for liquor license by the License Commission this week and expect to open April 15. 

 

The couple has operated three restaurants in the plaza, including the China Buffet and, separately, the Sushi House. Those were consolidated in 2017 as Meng's Pan-Asian.

 

They sold the restaurant business in early 2024, intending to retire, but the purchasers fell afoul of health ordinances and closed. 

 

Leah King, a friend and former owner of the Wigwam, represented the Wangs during the hearing. 

 

"The corporate structure is slightly different," she said. "Certainly the No. 1 thing is there was a need to rebrand and change the name for very obvious reasons."

 

The new operators had kept the old name but "did not do a good job," said King. "They really tarnished the name. ...

 

"It was a painstaking decision to completely rebrand, but to also allow the community to know that the same people are back. They want to fix their brand, but the best way to position that is with a new identity."

 

In this case, Golden Bamboo LLC will be in Yaling Wang's name only and she will the licenseholder. This makes sense, said King and Wangs, because Meng Wu Wang is busy dealing with the kitchen. His had been the sole name on the old license. 

 

They wanted to make sure the commission and the state knew there was no intention to evade anything by changing the licenseholder. 

 

"I've seen the evolution of your place, from one place, changing locations and people and things like that," said Commissioner Peter Breen. "I think it's a very, very smart idea to change the name. I think that that's perfect coming back."

 

The commission would be happy to talk with the state and explain the background, he said, if there was any difficulty with the license.

 

Meng Wu Wang was classically trained as a chef in China. He and his wife moved to North Adams more than 20 years ago to raise their children. They worked at other restaurants before opening the China Buffet about 2002, replacing another Chinese restaurant. They opened the Sushi House on the Main Street side of the building in 2011. 

 

The restaurant was approved for hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week but days would be the same as before, with Monday being closed. 

 

Commissioner Rosemari Dickinson did not feel they needed a refresher on service. 

 

"We know you've been good you have never been before us," she said. "You know to card the people."

 

King said alcohol service was about 4 percent of the restaurant's business in the past. 

 

In other business, the commission approved a one-day licenses for Two Sisters Spirits for Northern Berkshire United Way's annual Spirit of Caring Awards even on May 22 at Norad Mill; and for Michael Kelly at 23 Eagle St. for a fundraising dinner for the RFK Community Alliance's mentoring program for abused children, on April 12. Chef Chris Bonnivier said it is by ticket only and will have two seatings. 

 

Two weeks ago, the commission approved an all-alcohol license for Wigwam Hospitality LLC, expected to open in May.