Herbal tea shop neon sign in Yau Ma Tei saved

Photo via Neon Heritage on Facebook.
Photo via Neon Heritage on Facebook.

A herbal tea shop in Yau Ma Tei, that is planning on relocating in another part of the neighbourhood, has confirmed that it will be keeping its iconic neon sign.

According to Hong Kong Neon Heritage, the owner of Chun Wo Tong Dan Yan Lo Herbal Tea Mr Lee said that he and his family would like to keep the neon sign, which will be moved and erected at their new location when it is ready.

Fears about the fate of the shop’s neon sign were raised this week after the herbal tea shop — which has been owned by four generations of the same family — closed its doors to customers after it was sold for more than HK$30 million (US$3.82 million) in April.

Although Lee reassured customers that the tea shop would be relocating to another part of the Yau Ma Tei neighborhood, he told Hong Kong Neon Heritage that the shop’s iconic neon sign was likely to be removed.

Chun Wo Tong Dan Yan Lo Herbal Tea, (which translates to “Single-eyed Dude” Herbal Tea), erected its famous neon sign shortly after it opened in the 1950s.

Although the shop’s original neon sign was taken down due to the Buildings Department’s safety regulations, it was replaced by a new neon sign shortly afterwards.

According to Hong Kong Neon Heritage, Lee said he had chosen to stick with neon, rather than switch to LED because it “radiates a sense of familiarity.”

A new location has not yet been confirmed.



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