Sunday, 2 November 2008
Entrepreneur on a roll with high-rise bars
Despite having no experience when they opened their first bar six years ago, the three friends - Simon Choi Siu-man, John Choi Siu-kit and Mr Tam - behind the Shelter Census Group made a crucial decision at the outset: they chose to avoid Lan Kwai Fong in favour of high-rise venues in Causeway Bay.
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Entrepreneur on a roll with high-rise bars
Albert Wong
2 November 2008
He has been compared with Allan Zeman, the tycoon credited with turning Lan Kwai Fong into an upmarket nightclub and dining area.
But Jeffrey Tam Chun-kit dismisses the comparison - although the 32-year-old and two friends have been opening a string of vibrant bars and restaurants, and building themselves a brand name in Causeway Bay.
Despite having no experience when they opened their first bar six years ago, the three friends - Simon Choi Siu-man, John Choi Siu-kit and Mr Tam - behind the Shelter Census Group made a crucial decision at the outset: they chose to avoid Lan Kwai Fong in favour of high-rise venues in Causeway Bay.
And it has paid off. So much so that Causeway Bay has become part of their brand makeup.
Mr Tam admitted that the choice of location was made more out of necessity than some long-term vision. “We just wanted to have some fun. The rent in Lan Kwai Fong was just too high,” he said.
And while many young entrepreneurs who go into the food and beverage business in Hong Kong have their dreams dashed, either by fierce competition, rising rents or fickle customers, the group is expanding. Their newest venue - their 13th - is to open later this month.
The trio’s flagship bars, Shelter and Census, have become permanent features at Henry House, a Causeway Bay commercial building, in the past six years. There are now seven more bars and restaurants in high-rise buildings in the area.
With sweeping views across Hong Kong’s cityscape, Mr Tam’s bars are deliberately designed to feel like hotel bars, attracting local professionals rather than tourists.
“Starting up a business is not difficult here. The difficulty is in sustaining it,” Mr Tam said. “The past six years have been a huge learning curve. If I had to come to the same Census for six years, I’d be bored too,” he said. “Customers are always wanting something new.
“I’ve seen places with HK$400 all-you-can-drink, drop to HK$250 all-you-can-drink. It’s ladies night, every night,” he said, referring to the cutthroat competition.
Mr Tam puts part of his success down to good relations with other businesses and landowners.
Later this month the group will launch its latest and largest venue on the top of QRE Plaza, opposite the Hopewell Centre in Wan Chai.
Mr Tam admitted this could be their last new venue for some time because of the financial crisis, which was already hurting his industry.
“There are restaurants where I could never get a table, and now I don’t even have to book,” he said.
It would take more than a drop in rents to survive the crisis, he said, suggesting that businesses should collaborate to make shopping and dining more attractive.
“But obviously, if they do reduce the rent, then I’ll be most happy.”
Mr Tam is nevertheless proud of what he has already achieved so far.
“We are no longer promoting individual bars, we are promoting our company, our brand name,” he said.
As for comparisons with Mr Zeman, Mr Tam was very down to earth in his response.
“There’s no particular group or person we compare ourselves with or compete with ... We just want to concentrate on our own business, that’s the most important thing.
“Although, obviously, it would be great if I could be as successful as Allan Zeman one day. But, as you know, working in this industry can be very short-lived.”
Drinking in LKF is always fun but it is also fairly expensive. lan kwai fong bars
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