Expansion of Temple Restaurant Planned

Victor Kuo said he's got a 20-year plan, one that centers on developing a restaurant empire.

First things first.

After opening restaurant in Red Bank just 13 months ago, Kuo is already looking to expand. At the Red Bank Planning Board Monday night, Big China Corporation - an appropriate name considering Kuo is well over six feet tall - won approval to add approximately 1,400 square feet to his restaurant. The addition, he said, will create more seating, a banquet room, and allow for enough space to include a bar at the restaurant.

Temple, located at 91 Broad Street, is taking over half of the space formerly occupied by Jonathan Salon, which is condensing its operations to the other remaining half. Once the expansion is complete, Temple's square footage will nearly double to 3,100 square feet.

Kuo said his plan calls for opening as many as four restaurants in the next five years, and though he expects success, he said in a brief interview, he is somewhat surprised at how well Temple has been received so far.

"It's been great, business-wise," he said. "It's been better than expected. Red Bank and other businesses in Red Bank have been very supportive."

Kuo, a Long Branch resident, is a Red Bank restauranteur legacy. He once worked at his parents' borough restaurant, Peking Pavilion, which was located on Oakland Street at a site replaced in recent years by the Red Bank Charter School.

Mayor Pat Menna lauded Kuo's efforts, saying the growth of Temple is a great message for all of Red Bank.