
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104120420
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LINDA LOVINGOOD/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LACK OF HELP FORCES MR. HSING OWNER TO THINK SMALLER

When customers go to the Mr. Hsing Chinese restaurant, they may recognize the slight man with curly black hair and glasses who greets them. He's Shihlo Hsing, the former owner of the Hunan restaurant on Franklin Road.

While Hsing was the owner, Hunan was voted the best Oriental restaurant in the area for two years in a row by the readers of the Roanoker magazine. In 1987, Hsing sold the Hunan and two years later opened Mr. Hsing in the Tanglewood Square shopping center.

He says he sold the Franklin Road restaurant because of difficulty finding and keeping good help. Twenty employees were needed to run the 4,800-square-foot restaurant, which seats 140, and the adjoining bar, Bishop's. When five employees quit at the same time, Hsing decided it was time to sell out.

"I cannot turn customers away if I am unable to get help, but it becomes increasingly difficult to give them good service. Even if the food is outstanding, customers are not likely to come back if the service is not good," said Hsing.

Although he no longer owns the business, Hsing still owns the building where the Hunan restaurant and Bishop's are located.

Six full-time employees, including three chefs, work at Mr. Hsing, which is less than half the size of the Hunan. The smaller dining room allows Hsing to more easily oversee the restaurant and pitch in when he's needed. Mr. Hsing has seating for 60 and serves dinner seven days a week. On weekdays lunch also is available.

Hsing is pleased with his decision to sell the Hunan and open Mr. Hsing. "There's less money, less risk and fewer headaches," said the 48-year-old restaurateur.

"The situation with finding employees will never change, and I don't have family members to depend on like many of the other Oriental businesses in the Roanoke Valley."

Although he does not advertise because he does not want to compete directly with his tenants on Franklin Road, and believes that his location is not particularly strong, Hsing maintains a loyal clientele, many of whom followed him to his new restaurant. For new customers, he depends primarily on word of mouth.

After almost two years, Hsing said he is "very happy" with the success of his new venture. "I want people to enjoy food and leave with a smile on their faces."

by CNB