A taste of the Orient comes to the Merrion Centre

Tue 18 Nov, 2014

Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), has just brokered a deal with two new oriental eateries which has created 10 new jobs.

The Chopstix Group has over 44 units nationwide, has fast developing expansion plans and has recently opened a noodle bar in the Merrion Centre, signing a 15 year lease with TCS PLC. Investing £150k into its opening and occupying nearly 2000 sq ft, the restaurant group offers fresh and nutritious oriental fusion cuisine.

Although the restaurant is inspired from further afield, 95% of the ingredients are sourced from the UK allowing customers to enjoy high food standards with low food miles. With its inviting interior of red, orange and oriental yellows and a 36 people capacity in the restaurant, it seeks to attract a mix of clientele and create a touch of the Far East in the centre of Leeds.

Menashe Sadik, Managing Director at Chopstix explains; “TArena Quarter is am amazing new urban regeneration project and provides the perfect setting for our Chopstix noodle bar. Our location in the Merrion Centre means we are able to serve the community in a high footfall shopping centre which gives us the opportunity to trade for longer hours. We pride ourselves on offering a quick and convenient dining experience for health conscious customers who either want to take their food away or sit in and enjoy. All hydrogenated vegetable fats and monosodium glutamate have been removed from our foods, meaning our tasty meals are also nutritious.”

My Thai, the latest oriental eatery at the Merrion Centre, opened its doors earlier this week. This is the third opening for the Yorkshire based Thai chain, it already has popular restaurants in Bradford and Halifax. It has invested over £50,000 into the refurbishment of its 482 sq ft eatery in the Merrion Centre.

The authentic restaurant has been set up by Simon Grybass and his business partner, Bee Latham. Bee is originally from Thailand and has successfully operated a string of Thai restaurants across the world.

Simon Grybass, founder explains; “There are lots of Thai restaurants in Leeds but we see a real gap in the city for an affordable, relaxed, Thai dining experience. We serve authentic food at a good price and we want everyone; office workers, students, shoppers and families to feel they’ve been transported to Thailand itself, which is why we’ve made our interior like a mini beach hut with an array of tuc tucs! We have a seating area but also cater for those who are on the move and who want to take their food away with them, especially if they’re dashing off to see a performance at the first direct Arena.”

With a menu that changes weekly, only the freshest and most seasonal food is served.

Helen Green, Associate Director of Estates for Town Centre Securities PLC comments; “We’re delighted to welcome two modern, fun, brands which fit well with our demographic of young shoppers, families and office workers, who seek great tasting, healthy food with convenience and speed. Both eateries are also offering longer trading hours on first direct Arena nights, which is a great asset as we are even busier when big performances take place.”