Photo: Drew Lazor at Meal Ticket
For a few hours on Saturday, Jen and I had a chance to sit down and talk with Lêe, the man behind the soon-to-open Hop Sing Laundromat in Chinatown. Reporting isn’t really our thing, but we’re pretty excited to see what kind of place Hop Sing turns into so we thought we’d share it here.
It’s great looking on the inside so far. The whole décor of the place has been put together with an attention to detail that seems above and beyond what most places aspire to. The physical space behind the bar looks like what I imagine most bartenders would dream of, and the overall concept feels a lot more democratic and customer-oriented than is the norm in the craft cocktail scene. Lêe was very deliberate in stressing the atmosphere he wants to create: relaxed, fun, and above all, private. No cell phones will be allowed in the main room (a bench will be available in the entryway for the express purpose of taking phone calls), no pictures, and the tables will be set further apart than most of us are probably used to.
As for the drinks, the emphasis seems to be on stripping away the flash of the 20-ingredient cocktail and focusing more on the balance of classics like Manhattans and Sidecars: the perfect combination of a few simple parts. Lêe also tell us that he believes that drinking is a highly personal experience, and if you want to substitute a drink ingredient (say…from a bottle of $200 scotch to Johnny Walker Red), not only will the bartender happily oblige without explaining to you that he knows better, the price of the drink will reflect the change.
By his own admission, Lêe is a little bit crazy. Parts of the interior of Hop Sing have been done and re-done many times over because he doesn’t think they’re just right. The bar was moved from one side of the room to the other based entirely on the sight-lines of the bartenders and servers. The whole undertaking looks like a lot of passion went into it, and we are pretty excited to see how the whole thing pans out. We’ll definitely be reporting back in a month or so when Hop Sing Laundromat finally opens its doors.
Hop Sing Laundromat is located at 1029 Race Street in Philadelphia. Read more about it on Meal Ticket and Foobooz.
He’d better be prepared for some major complaining about the cell phone policy. People are going to hate that.
Honestly, I think it’s a great idea. I know I’m in the minority, but I love the idea of being able to enjoy myself without everyone messing with their phones all night.
It’s not so having to disconnect, but an insecurity of leaving your expensive possession that has a lot of personal information on it to the care of a stranger. And since everyone carries phones on them at all times… well, that’s a problem. Also, are they going to frisk you to make sure your phone gets taken away upon entry? I just see that policy causing a lot of arguments.
Oh, no one is physically taking the phone away. You just aren’t allowed to use it in the bar or (I presume) they’ll first ask you to take it to the lobby, and then ask you to leave if you continue to use it. It’s not like a movie screening where you have to leave it with the doorman.
Hopefully more establishments will take note of the no cell phone policy. I have been anticipating the opening for a while, but after hearing about Lee’s eccentricities all over town I hope to meet him as well!
I feel the same way about the phones, but I know I’m in the minority.
Sounds like a tyrant.
Great place for a nightcap. Excellent libations, contrary to the theatrical claims of the host/proprietor who is almost a caricature of himself – bedecked in black square frame glasses and enormous gold dragon cufflinks.
As for the phone policy, I love it. The policy is that you CAN text, tweet, etc. You CANNOT take pictures or talk on the phone. Anyone out there not know how to text? TIP: Texting is a better way to communicate in a public than talking on the phone.
Enjoy the Laundromat, and go hang out your old dirty laundry with your friends.