Family restaurant relaunch facing delays after £2k decking stolen

Wednesday 05 July 2023

The relaunch of a popular family-run restaurant may have to be postponed after decking worth £2,000 due to be used in the refurbishment was stolen over the weekend.

Police officers said that it was taken at some time between 12:30 on Saturday and Monday morning from the Rice Bowl at Grève d’Azette.

The Chinese restaurant was founded by Ken Yu around four decades ago.

His daughter, Hayley, who is an architect and co-owner of St. Helier's Awabi with her brother Stephen, had drawn up plans to renovate the restaurant.

"Incredible" response on social media

When the decking was taken, the pair shared details of the theft with their Awabi following on social media in the hope of catching the culprit.

Pictured: Awabi co-founders Hayley and Stephen Yu used their restaurant's following to help catch the Rice Bowl culprit.

Hayley explained that CCTV footage showed a white van arriving at the site at around 20:30 on Saturday and returning at 21:30, and this was now one line of inquiry.

She said: "Early on, a good friend advised us to use social media platforms to raise awareness, making it difficult for the culprit who stole the decking to dispose of it without arousing suspicion. 

"We have received an incredible response so far, and we are immensely grateful to everyone who has liked and shared our posts.

"We have also received valuable information from members of the public about vehicles seen in the car park on Saturday afternoon and evening, and we will definitely be passing on any information, however small or insignificant it may seem, to the police."

She explained that the family had been planning to relaunch the restaurant this summer, but that the opening would probably now have to be postponed.

Pictured: A call for help on Awabi's Instagram page.

The stolen materials are described as ‘golden oak Millboard composite decking’ measuring 176mm x 3,600mm x 32mm.

"The Rice Bowl has been a small family business, established by our father nearly 40 years ago, and it holds great significance within the St. Clement community," Ms Yu explained.

"We weren't prepared for something like this to happen"

"Like so many building projects in the island at the moment, we have suffered from delays and cost increases.

"The current cost-of-living crisis has made it challenging for contractors and subcontractors to secure staff, and we are still grappling with the consequences of Brexit and the ongoing impact of covid.

"Similar to others, we are trying our best to overcome these challenges, but we weren’t prepared for something like this to happen and I’m really saddened that someone would do such a thing. Our loyal customers have eagerly anticipated the opening of the newly renovated restaurant."

"We are maintaining a positive outlook"

"I’ve even been standing in the car park during a meeting to have one of our customers shout out, 'When are you opening, Ken? We’re all waiting for our Chinese!' from their car," she added. 

Pictured: The Rice Bowl "holds great significance within the St. Clement community".

"Nonetheless, we are maintaining a positive outlook and striving to open as soon as possible to serve our valued customers once again."

Anyone with information should contact the States of Jersey Police on 612612 or can make an anonymous report using Crimestoppers' online form.

This article was written by Cameron Moore, who is on work experience with Bailiwick Express and the JEP.