By Shereen Siewert

WAUSAU — Chang Garden in downtown Wausau will close Sunday, but will reopen under a new name after new owners take over next week.

Hi Restaurant joined the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce this month and will soon host a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new venture. Hi will replace Chang Garden, located at 102 Jefferson St., which announced earlier this month they would close their downtown location while continuing operations in Weston. State records show the new restaurant’s LLC, Hi Yummy!, was formed in December. The new restaurant will open Jan.19.

Hi Restaurant Owners Jin Xu and Pan Ziping say they decided to venture out and buy the business when they learned the owners of Chang planned to close their downtown location. Xu said he has enjoyed exploring new tastes since a young age He has more than 10 years of cooking experience as a chef. 

“We are very fortunate that the owner has decided to retire and sell one of his restaurants to us,” said Xu.  “It’s the right time and the right place, and we’ve decided to open our own business. We wish to continue to serve delicious Asian cuisine in the heart of downtown Wausau.”

A menu for the new restaurant, available on the business’s Facebook page, features a wide array of sushi and Chinese foods for lunch and dinner, along with a variety of soups. Chef Jin Xu will offer more than two dozen lunch specials served during limited hours Monday through Saturday, along with an expansive dinner menu.

Patrons will see both familiar favorites and new options that will be added to the menu when the restaurant changes hands.

Winter hours planned for Hi Restaurant are 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. In the summer, hours from Sunday through Thursday will be extended until 9 p.m.  Delivery is available with a minimum order.

Chang Garden will maintain its presence in Weston at 4215 Barbican Ave., company officials said.

Find more information on the Hi Restaurant Facebook page or call 715-841-1728. Additional details about their official opening and ribbon cutting are expected soon.

Top photo: Hi Restaurant Facebook page photo