Grand Cafe to close for now in search of a new location

Owners Patsy Izumo, Mona Chang Vierra and her son Anthony Vierra are looking for a new location for Grand Cafe & Bakery, but in the meantime the 7-year-old restaurant will close after service on Tuesday. Service ends at 1:45 p.m.

The restaurant at 31 N. Pauahi St. in Chinatown has normally been closed on Mondays, but it will be open June 25, Mona Vierra said.

Grand Cafe owners and the property owner "couldn’t come to agreement on terms for lease renewal," Vierra said. The property owner could not be reached.

Regulars include politicians, downtown businessfolk and journalists (yes, they serve anyone). Customers also have included visitors from New York and Europe who have complimented her son-the-chef’s cooking. "They’ve told me my son makes the best eggs Benedict they’ve ever had," she said, adding that he makes several varieties, and given the "rave reviews" they created a sampler so people can try, say, the Reuben Benedict and a Veggie Benedict.

Regulars also know they can get a discreetly served alcoholic beverage straight out of the 1920s speakeasy scene. Choices include a Bloody Mary, Side Car and Bees Knees cocktails, brought to the table in a coffee mug.

The popular restaurant’s origins date back to 1923, when the first Grand Cafe & Bakery was opened at King and Maunakea Streets by Mona Vierra’s grandfather, she said.

"He only had it for a couple years, but growing up … everybody spoke of it. My aunts and uncles would talk about Gung-gung’s restaurant."

Vierra and Izumo were career-long educators, but Vierra’s family is rife with food-service industry people who have plied their trade at Varsity Bakery, Magic Oven, the Ilikai and Top of Waikiki, and some were pastry chefs that taught at Kapiolani Community College.

Her grandmother’s younger brother and his wife opened Char Hung Sut restaurant in 1946 "and it’s still going strong," she said.

Their ideal location would be on the Diamond Head side of Smith Street, due to customer demand.

Stay tuned to this space for updates.

MINI MERCHANTS IN THE MAKING

Windward Mall will launch Kids Inc., a new contest for young entrepreneurs this summer that will give winning kids ages 6 to 15 a chance to sell their products or services at the mall and pay no lease rent, despite a prime Center Court location.

Mall officials are "excited to … offer this opportunity to budding retail entrepreneurs," said Alex Kirley, Windward Mall marketing manager. "We’re looking forward to hosting these ‘merchants of the future.’"

Entrants can make something from scratch, offer a service, or resell products purchased from a wholesaler, all with minimal parental involvement, according to contest rules. However, entrants 12 and under will need a parent or guardian to submit their entry, the rules state.

To qualify, young ‘uns must submit their business plans via the Windward Mall Facebook page by July 4.

Submitted business plans will be up for public vote from July 5 to 12. The 10 highest vote getters will take part in the Kids Inc. one-day showcase to strut their business stuff. They will keep all the revenue they earn.

The Kids Inc. event is staged at selected malls and shopping centers managed by Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., including Queen Kaahumanu Center on Maui.

MORE BIZ KIDS

The second annual Lemonade Alley business contest, meanwhile, will stage its final round of competition from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 8 at the ING DIRECT Cafe at 1958 Kalakaua Ave.

In this competition, teams of kids in public and private schools from kindergarten through high school seniors try to make the most delicious lemonade.

Separated into three age divisions, the teams are competing for $1,000 in cash prizes and free admission to Camp BizGym, which is a local business literacy program for youthful entrepreneurs. One of the lessons the kids learn is giving back, as all event proceeds benefit local charities.

In addition to lemonade sales to the public, attendees also will be able to purchase food from Rainbow Drive-In and Yama’s Fish Market. Live entertainment is included in the event, for which corporate sponsors still are being welcomed by event organizers BizGym.com and LeiHut.com.

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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com, or on Twitter as @erikaengle.