Jade Court, a Chinese restaurant known for its authentic Cantonese cuisine, is shutting its doors in Hyde Park's Harper Court at the end of next month. Carol Cheung, the owner of the esteemed eatery, has decided to close up shop on February 29, confirming the exit agreement with the University of Chicago, which owns the Harper Court development where the restaurant is located. This closure comes as a particular sting with the Lunar New Year celebration on the horizon, an event that traditionally fuels business for local Chinese dining establishments, as reported by Eater Chicago.
After a tumultuous period marked by the pandemic, staff shortages, and escalating costs, Cheung said "I still cannot find my footing there," citing the unpredictable nature of the business. Not even the upcoming Year of the Dragon could ensure a consistent stream of patrons, despite efforts from the university to bolster the restaurant's customer base and financial stability. Cheung reiterated to Eater Chicago, "It’s consistently inconsistent — we get slammed one night and for some reason on a weekend we’ll be done by 7:30."
The restaurant has been a Hyde Park staple for the past three years, reopening in November 2020, and has been a labor of love for Cheung, who took over after her father and seasoned restaurateur, Eddy Cheung, passed away in July 2019. "We love Hyde Park and appreciate the three wonderful years we've enjoyed in the neighborhood," Cheung expressed in a statement obtained by Block Club Chicago.
Cheung has been a fixture in the restaurant, known to personalize dishes for her customers. The Harbour Court location, chosen for its proximity to the University of Chicago, attracted faculty and administrators who were longtime patrons of the family's establishments. However, the school had once suggested that Cheung trim down her extensive menu catering to a more fast-casual concept — a move she did not align with defending the quality of her dishes and the legacy of her father's recipes. "God forbid a Chinese restaurant charges $16 for Mongolian beef," Cheung told Eater Chicago.
As Carol Cheung's beloved restaurant prepares to close, she's been looking at other opportunities, potentially continuing her family's culinary legacy in Hyde Park or elsewhere. Cheung or her husband, Adrian Race, who has been instrumental in the running of the restaurant, will keep the community posted on any new developments. While the University of Chicago praised Cheung as a "great partner," they have yet to announce a new tenant for Jade Court's soon-to-be-vacant space, according to the university's statement shared with Eater Chicago.
