By Isabella Zarate

For 23 years, The Peking House has sat tucked into the corner at 806 Eastwood Drive, Mahomet. 

In May of the year 2000, Gina and Chung Wang packed up their family and made the move from Ohio to the quaint town of Mahomet. 

After seeing an ad for the building in a Chinese newspaper, the Wang’s knew they could not pass up the opportunity. Now, after more than two decades, The Peking House Chinese Restaurant has become a staple in the Mahomet community. 

Though, like for most things, with time comes change, and the same falls true for The Peking House. Gina and Chung will be retiring from their roles as owners, and the restaurant will be closing come the last weekend of April.

Teresa Wang shares how, while her mother is sad to be letting go, she hopes to leave a piece of The Peking House behind. Starting this January, Gina Wang began offering cooking classes as a way to share some of the restaurant’s traditional recipes with the community. 

“She did those cooking classes because she really wanted to leave her legacy behind,” Teresa shares.

According to Teresa, Gina knows what The Peking House means to the community and thus wants to pass on what she knows before leaving.

“She knows that people love her food, so she really wanted to make sure that if you really had a hankering for The Peking House, you at least had the recipes and the know-how to make it yourself at home,” Teresa adds. 

While customers might miss the food, the thing the Wang’s are going to miss most are the people. 

“I think, for my family, they are going to miss the people that have supported them throughout 

the years: like seeing all those regular customers that came in and enjoyed and all the memories that they have shared together,” says Teresa.

While the Wangs are preparing to step away from such a big stage of their life, Teresa shares that they are excited for what is to come. 

Despite the closing of the restaurant, the Wang’s will remain a part of the Mahomet community. 

“They’re going to stay in Mahomet,” Teresa explains. 

“My parents want to enjoy their house, they have worked so hard to purchase their home and do everything that they wanted to do, but they never really got to enjoy their house so my mom was like excited to garden and raise her puppies.” 

Aside from puppies and gardening, Teresa said her parents are also happy to have extra time with their family. 

“She has a new grandbaby, so she is excited to be a grandma.”

Teresa continues, “My grandma [Gina’s mother] also lives with my parents, and she is getting older so my parents are looking forward to spending time with her.”

Though the Wang’s are used to being at the restaurant for the majority of their days, Teresa says that her parents are excited for this next chapter of relaxation. 

As a way to celebrate the Wang’s and their retirement, The Peking House will be hosting a buffet April 29-30. 

At this time, there will be no carryout or traditional dine-in, buffet only. Proceeds will go towards Gina and Chung’s retirement.