Popular Longtime Chinese Restaurant Closes In Eastport

EASTPORT, NY — A longtime favorite Chinese restaurant closed its doors for the last time on Sunday, as, after 36 years in business, the owners of May Hung's Kitchen, located on Eastport Manor Rd. in Eastport, said good-bye.

"Thank you to the community, loyal customers and longtime friends of May Hung’s Kitchen. Today is our last day of business, after over 36-plus years. What will they do without seeing you all every day? Thank you for the kind gestures and heart-filled words. Everyone will be missed! Hope to see familiar faces around town," said Min Lin and Suet Li.

The farewell was bittersweet, said Michelle LaBozzetta, whose family has been the lifeblood that kept the restaurant flourishing.

"My mom has been there since before 1983," LaBozzetta said. "We were trying to pinpoint an exact year but she wasn't too sure. But definitely before 1983— I say that because it was the year I was born."

There was one prior owner before her family took over the restaurant, who only stayed a couple of years, LaBozzetta said. "My grandfather originally bought the restaurant; he then sold it to my uncle, whom a lot of people know as Lee."

Then, around 1977, her mother opened up her own restaurant in Manor Park —Kings City Kitchen. "She came back maybe 10 years later, when my uncle decided to sell. So it's been in the same family since the 80s," LaBozzetta said.

Her life has been shaped by days spent at the family business, Labozzetta said.

"Some memories that come to mind — eating dinner with my family. I was really little and still trying to learn how to use the chopsticks. We all were able to sit down and eat together. Something I missed through the years — its been a very long time since we all did that."

Another memory, LaBozzetta said, is "learning to help make the dumpling dough. Rolling it out and flattening it. I couldn't fill it with the meat; my hands at the time were too small. This very item is still very much popular with the customers. No one makes the dough anymore; they now use purchased wraps which doesn't give it much substance."

The restaurant drew customers who made the delicious fare a part of their own family memories for generations.

"I always love hearing stories from some of the loyal customers. One main memory they had of me when I was little," LaBozzetta said. "I use to hide in these large cardboard boxes. Tuck myself in and just sit in there — hide and play. I remember surprising someone, they really were not expecting me to pop out of it or to see hands wiggling around in there."

"Where my mom was, I was"

Growing up in the restaurant, she said, "I was always there. Where my mom was, I was. Until I got to school age and I was only there on the weekends. When she left to have her own restaurant, I was around 14. I was there two to three weekdays and always on the weekends. She bought a house not too far from that restaurant, so I was able to walk back and forth."

LaBozzetta said she will always remember the long hours her mother and stepfather worked at the restaurant.

"The restaurant has always been their biggest concern. Everything was centered around that. My life was wrapped around that. As much as I had going on in my life, I always tried to make sure I could help. Through the years its been draining but I grew up knowing I needed to be there," she said.

In retirement, LaBozzetta said, Min and Suet hope to be able to relax. "One main thing — they want to go fishing. Sounds silly, but they are excited about that. They also want to enjoy time with my boys. They worked for so long, so many hours, they just want be happy to enjoy life and have time to do things for themselves."

When news broke that the restaurant was closing, longtime fans expressed sadness on Facebook. "Wow, my favorite place," one woman wrote. "Enjoy your retirement."

"I grew up in Eastport and May Hung's was the absolute best. Sad for the community. Happy for Min and Suet," another wrote.

"We will miss them," one neighbor said. "We've gotten our Chinese food there for 33 1/3 years, since we moved in. Always enjoyed our meals. Congratulations and enjoy your well-deserved retirement!"

"This is a sad day. I've been eating food from May Hung's since I was a baby," a man wrote.

And, again and again, the words echoed: "You will be missed."