New Lam’s Garden, a Chinese style restaurant, has been in business in Waynesburg since 1984.

Jimmy Choy originally owned the business until about 10 years ago, when current owner Cherrie Yuan and her husband took over as owners.

Yuan and her husband ran the business at its old location, in the lot that is currently empty next to the Fashion Shoppe, on 41 W High Street. After needing a new location, but being unable to find one, the business shut down in 2011.

Betina Tsang, a friend of Yuan and a current worker at New Lam’s Garden, said everyone was in search of a new place for the

business to go.

Tsang helped Yuan find New Lam’s Garden’s new building, where it is currently located. In 2012, New Lam’s Garden opened at 68 South Washington Street.

In June, the business closed once again, as renovations began. After adding a complete new section, the business has several

new features.

The side of the restaurant that was next to an empty lot had cracks in the wall that needed to be fixed, according to Tsang. She said the Yuans had wanted to add onto its current location for more than a year before the renovations started.

A completely new building was added onto the original, taking out the damaged wall. In the new part of the building, a large seating

area was added.

Until the renovation was completed, there were only stairs going into the business and the restroom was upstairs, something Tsang said made it more difficult for elder customers.

Tsang said during the renovation, a ramp was put to the front door, a handicap accessible restroom was placed in the back corner and the tables also became handicap accessible.

Tsang said the members of the community were waiting patiently during the first several months of the eventual five-month renovation process, but she believes some people might have been frustrated with the slowed process.

However, Tsang does not believe the business will take a hit from the time

it was closed.

New Lam’s Garden officially reopened Nov. 3, but didn’t publicly announce its reopening.

While the plan was to have the restaurant open again in October, Tsang said small bumps in the road slowed and delayed the process from time to time.

With the addition of the seating area–more than 15 tables–Tsang said there will need to be more employees hired for the front and back of the restaurant, increasing their number of workers from about five to

around 12.

The restaurant not being at full capacity yet was a factor for the restaurant delaying the publicity of its reopening.

With the addition of the seating area, New Lam’s Garden will no

longer deliver.

Tsang said several people commented on this change, but most people have accepted and embraced the transition from pick-up style to the sit-down opportunity.

“We had a few people complain, ‘What, no delivery? Then I guess I’m picking it up,’” said Tsang. “But in general, everybody was open to it.”

Tsang said the restaurant will continue to have the same fresh-cooked food items on the menu, but food will only be available for dine-in or pick-up.

New menus were printed for those who dine in, but the old, pick-up-style menus are still accurate.

Tsang said the status of the business after the renovations is what the Yuans had envisioned in 2012 when they were looking for their new location.

“This is what they wanted originally when they moved from Main Street to here, but they just didn’t have any places in Waynesburg that was an option that was already built,” said Tsang.

Tsang said New Lam’s Garden will continue with its same hours but will more than likely now be closed Sundays.