NW Philly’s Lucky Star plans post-fire reopening in May

To the many readers and friends of NewsWorks who have asked about the return of Andorra’s Lucky Star restaurant, one of several businesses damaged in a fire 18 months ago: Your wish is coming true.

Tina Xie, owner of the popular Chinese eatery in Roxborough Market Square, confirmed yesterday that repairs are nearly complete and Lucky Star should open in mid-to-late May. Gordon Saul, who owns the Roxborough Market Square shopping center at 8919 Ridge Ave., said the three other tenant spaces destroyed by the blaze on Oct. 17, 2011, should all also be ready for business by the end of next month.

Xie’s family has owned Lucky Star for the last decade of its 30-year run. And while a bit of time to rest was welcomed after the long hours and seven-day work weeks that come with running a restaurant, she said she is eager to return and appreciates that customers are eager to see them back. After the fire, Xie was able to transfer employees to other family-owned businesses, so none lost their jobs.

Wednesday, as Xie was at the restaurant to let phone workers in, two former employees saw the door open and came in to see about coming back to work there, she said.

“My friends show me the emails from people asking about when we will reopen,” Xie said. “They’re missing us, because I love them and they love coming here. We’re missing each other.”

The fire was believed to have begun in the VFW Bingo Hall a few doors down from Lucky Star, and also damaged the Pinki Nail salon and a cigar and smoke shop. Saul said the cigar shop was not returning, creating a tenant opening for a 1,200 square-foot space. Other tenants at the shopping center, including Graham’s Pub, the Sherwin-Williams paint store, a dry cleaner and Pina’s Pizza, have remained open.

Stay tuned to NewsWorks for more details on a reopening date. To inquire about the retail space, contact Larry Nauflin at (610) 420-5991.

NewsWorks has partnered with independent news gatherer PlanPhilly to provide regular, in-depth, timely coverage of planning, zoning and development news. Contact Amy Z. Quinn at azquinn@planphilly.com.