Popular Philadelphia Sichuan restaurant EMei is expanding for the first time in its 14-year history, opening a new location in Ardmore in the former home of John Henry’s Pub, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
EMei owner Dan Tsao finished closing on the property at 98 Cricket Avenue last week. The $1.45 million purchase also included the liquor license, furnishings, and equipment.
Tsao hopes to open EMei Ardmore next summer, following extensive renovations and a possible expansion of the property.
“EMei needs a bigger kitchen,” he said. “We have over 100 menu items and we’re doing everything in-house.”
EMei Ardmore will have seating for between 100 and 125 people.
John Henry’s Pub closed in February after the longtime owners Jim and Kathy Kearney decided to retire from the bar and restaurant business, capping nearly four decades in the industry.
Tsao opened the original EMei in Philadelphia’s Chinatown in 2011 and has since built a large following thanks to its authentic Sichuan cuisine. The restaurant has seen its sales grow by 300 percent in recent years compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about EMei in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
