AMHERST – There is new management for a downtown Amherst restaurant that recently lost its license to serve alcohol for 55 days after providing mixed drinks to underage people.
The Select Board on Monday unanimously approved a change in manager at Panda East, 103 North Pleasant St., and the transfer of its all-alcohol license to new owners Panda Enterprises Inc.
The board’s approvals during a public hearing come just three months after members voted unanimously April 21 to impose the liquor license suspension from May 4 to June 27. The suspension was issued after police reported incidents in which underage people were sold alcohol on the evenings of March 26 and April 8, which followed the sale of Scorpion Bowls, a mixed-drink with fruit juice served in large bowls, to 17 underage people last fall.
The liquor license was returned by the Police Department after no further violations were discovered during the period of suspension.
Amy Wu, a temporary manager and bartender at Panda East, assured the board in the spring that new procedures were in place to examine patron identifications. Those measures include the purchase of an ID scanner for $5,000 and extensive training for employees.
Kristi Bodin, an Amherst attorney representing Panda Enterprises Inc., said that the restaurant will no longer serve Scorpion Bowls, which appeared to be an attraction for college-age people during late-night hours.
Meanwhile, the new manager is Shiao Fu Chen of Parsippany, New Jersey, who has extensive experience at Chinese restaurants, including being part-time host and staff supervisor at Panda East between November 2014 and February 2015. She previously worked as part-time supervisor and consultant at China Gourmet in Greenfield from March to December 2011.
The restaurant is being acquired from Isaac Chow, who had owned Panda East since 1987.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
