'Bittersweet': China Moon's Waning Days In Stoneham

STONEHAM, MA — Most Stoneham residents can't remember a time when there wasn't China Moon. For 67 years, and across three generations, the Route 28 restaurant has been host to birthday parties, weddings, team dinners, reunions and many a family meal.

Soon those memories will be all that remain of China Moon. The restaurant will close Dec. 14, as the property is in the beginning stages of being sold. Barry Tse, whose mother, Jane, is one of the restaurant's owners, said the final weeks have been "bittersweet."

"Many have stopped by to get one more meal, say goodbye, and share their own story about their memories of the restaurant," Tse said. "We are so appreciative of the love and support the community has given us all these years."

China Moon was founded by Tse's grandfather, George Der, in 1953. In the ensuing decades, it passed through members of the Tse, Der and Bing-You families, a friendly face like Tse's father, Peter, or uncle, Henry, greeting customers as a reminder of the restaurant's community values.

But business has been challenging over the past few years. And while the pandemic was not the death knell for China Moon that it was for many other restaurants, it had a nagging effect as the family tried to reopen.

At the outset, Tse said the transition to takeout and delivery was "seamless" and remained consistently strong throughout the pandemic.

"Once indoor seating was allowed to resume, the dine-in side had never fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels as less people wanted to dine in," Tse said. "We had to eliminate the buffet, use disposable utensils, space tables six feet apart and require masks."

Tse's mother, who recently turned 81, and the other co-owners, Cindy DeWolfe, Lisa Green and Pam Quock, decided it was time to sell. Several developers have expressed interest in buying the property, but the family is still looking for a real estate broker to assist in the sale, Tse said.

Once the doors close on China Moon, Tse's family plans to take a well-deserved vacation. He says they are grateful for the customers and employees that made the restaurant special for nearly 70 years.

"All of us in the family can look back and appreciate the hard work and sacrifices of our prior generations to make the business prosper all these years," Tse said.

Previously: Stoneham's China Moon Closing After 60+ Years