Closing of beloved Byron's ends a restaurant empire

By Bob Sigall

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 01, 2013

~~<p>Byron's Drive-In on Paiea Street closed Thursday after 47 years in operation. It was an end of an era that began in 1955 and stretched to 17 restaurants. Many people don't know the extent of Andy Wong's empire, because his restaurants operated under so many different names. He didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket.</p>
<p>Wong was one of Hawaii's top restaurateurs. He opened first business — Leon's at Kailua, a tavern — in 1955. The 27-year-old called himself a barkeep, says daughter Lori Wong.</p>
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Byron's Drive-In on Paiea Street closed Thursday after 47 years in operation. It was an end of an era that began in 1955 and stretched to 17 restaurants. Many people don't know the extent of Andy Wong's empire, because his restaurants operated under so many different names. He didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket.

Wong was one of Hawaii's top restaurateurs. He opened first business — Leon's at Kailua, a tavern — in 1955. The 27-year-old called himself a barkeep, says daughter Lori Wong. Login for more...