Zhen Wei Fang Gets Going at Former Congee Bowery Space
For the second time in as many years, the folks behind Congee Bowery are switching it up. Yet keeping it in the family.
You’ll recall that Congee Bowery transitioned to Hot Pot Village in the summer of 2017. Now, just over a year later, a grand opening celebration is underway for Zhen Wei Fang. The restaurant at 207 Bowery is parallel with its predecessor, and has been serving since last month.
Principals behind the concept – Ricky Liang and Wei Chen – purchased the assets from the prior owners, and obtained approval from Community Board 3 this month for a full liquor license. Liang operates the Allen Hotel (at Broome Street) and is the son of Congee Village owner Peter Liang.
The Congee Village one-two punch began in 1996 with the sprawling location at 100 Allen Street. Lou Holtzman’s Eastside Sound recording studio had operated for decades on what would later become the mezzanine level of the restaurant; Holtzman moved the business to Forsyth Street in 2000. The Bowery restaurant followed in 2005.
Recent Stories
Time to Demand Cuomo and de Blasio Protect Workers and Small Businesses in Reopening Plan (OP-ED)
The following editorial was written by Zishun Ning of the Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the Lower East Side. The New York City and State governments are still failing to protect people’s health and livelihood after two months of “PAUSE.” The number of deaths and infections remain high. Patients with COVID-19 are still turned away, despite […]
Orchard Street Shop Continues Pushing Pencils During a Pandemic
Many independent neighborhood businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown, including CW Pencil Enterprise. Established in 2014, the pencil purveyor of Orchard Street is feeling the pains of the pandemic and adjusting as best they can during. Owner Caroline Weaver explains how they’ve been trying to keep the business afloat. “Adapting to this new […]
Skateboarders Are Scaling the Fence at Coleman Skatepark, Flouting Shutdown
The brief, state-ordered hiatus from skateboarders grinding under the Manhattan Bridge has concluded. Though, not officially. Signs remain in place at many city playgrounds announcing full closure until further notice. Still not much of a deterrence, though. For instance, the popular Coleman Skatepark on Monroe Street. Skaters have begun scaling the fence of late, flouting […]
Clayton Patterson Gets the Graphic Novel Treatment
Prolific Lower East Side documentarian, Clayton Patterson, is getting his own biography. An illustrated one, at that. The colorful homage is curated by Julian Voloj, and features the work of eighteen artists paying tribute to Patterson’s life and works in graphic novel form. The anthology is aptly titled, Clayton: Godfather of Lower East Side Documentary. […]
Disaster Squared: Coronavirus and Hurricanes Poses Deadly Threat to Lower East Side [OP-ED]
The following editorial is written by Pat Arnow. For more than a year, the city has been ignoring solid community opposition to a massive flood control project that will demolish East River Park, and do the opposite. Now, with a furious hurricane season predicted, not listening could prove dire for these unwealthy sections of the […]
