Arts & Entertainment
The end of an era?
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/outlaw-partners-46x46.jpg)
![Avatar photo](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/outlaw-partners-46x46.jpg)
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw Partners![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/photo-1485768071412-bded21c2be08.jpeg)
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Scott_Mechura_headshot-978x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Scott_Mechura_headshot-978x1024.jpg)
By Scott Mechura EBS FOOD COLUMNIST
It is an international phenomenon—an entire generation, all over the globe, who don’t want to carry on their elders’ family business.
There is an older generation that has worked to build something for their children, a generation that is driven by a work ethic that spans decades and exists worldwide. They collectively possessed a drive to build something out of mere pittance as a new arrival to a country foreign to them.
Although this generation faced many challenges, from financial to cultural setbacks, they may be facing their biggest one yet—the one they didn’t see coming. The issue lies in the passing on of a business in this industry to a generation more interested in pursuing opportunities that do not carry the burden of physical labor.
What business am I talking about? I’m talking about the pedestrian Chinese restaurant.
I call them “pedestrian” because they are always without frills or fashion and seem to be everywhere. On road trips after high school with my best friend Jim, we used to joke that even in the smallest towns in America, there always seemed to be three things: a post office, a NAPA Auto Parts store and a Chinese restaurant
Travel to virtually any metropolitan city in America and it seems that if you stand in one place on a sidewalk for more than 15 minutes, you’ll witness the opening of a new restaurant, bar or brewery. Yet with thousands of new restaurants opening in the last few years, the closing of Chinese restaurants has been on the rise—and nowhere is it more noticeable than ground zero.
San Francisco’s Chinatown, the oldest in America, has seen a steady decline in family-owned restaurants over the last five years
The restaurant business has always been one of the most challenging businesses to open and maintain. It is hard work with low margins. Two other issues seriously complicate the restaurant business model: rapidly rising rents and increased minimum wage, which, of course, affect everyone.
But something else is happening in sharp contrast to this Chinese decline: other ethnic restaurants, specifically Italian, Mexican, Korean and Indian, are either holding steady or increasing.
There is a theory that has been floated out there that this has been a specific plan all along—that the Chinese specifically opened restaurants and cooked so their children wouldn’t have to. As for me, I don’t see the logic in spending a lifetime doing a specific thing solely so your children wouldn’t have to do that same thing. Why not avoid it altogether?
Also, we are talking about a people and culture who hold the value of tradition and family among their highest. To me, it doesn’t align. But I have a somewhat more sophisticated theory to explain the decline in Chinese children carrying on their parents’ restaurants.
I speak regularly with my teacher friend who lives in Singapore and travels to mainland China frequently for school trips and vacation. He says many in their culture still believe cooking is “the woman’s work.” Couple that with the decades-long single child restriction in China, and males being more desirable, and you’re left with a disproportionate society of males who do not believe cooking in and owning a restaurant is their destiny. That leaves you with a decline in Chinese restaurants abroad.
Whether you’re traveling through rural America, or you burned the turkey dinner on Christmas like in the movie “A Christmas Story,” it isn’t difficult to find an open Chinese restaurant when you want or need it—at least for now.
Scott Mechura has spent a life in the hospitality industry. He is a former certified beer judge and currently the executive chef at Buck’s T-4 Lodge in Big Sky.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ebs_logo_white_220px.png)
![](https://www.explorebigsky.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ebs_logo_white_220px.png)
Upcoming Events
september, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
June 24 (Monday) 6:00 pm - September 2 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description information. Please wear layers, bring water and snacks. Bear spray recommended.
Time
July 1 (Monday) 9:00 am - September 2 (Monday) 12:00 pm
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
July 1 (Monday) 6:00 pm - September 9 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be
more
Event Details
Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be taught by a variety of teachers from Santosha and BASE. This summer all proceeds will go to Big Sky Band-Aid, aside from the first one on the 26th that is happening during Pride week- all funds donated for that class will go to Big Sky OUT. A delicious lunch will also be served by Gourmet Gals following our practice each Wednesday (included in donation). You are welcome to donate with cash at the event or you can Venmo @Santoshabigsky and make a note for Community Yoga. Hope to see you in the Park!
Time
July 3 (Wednesday) 12:00 pm - September 2 (Monday) 1:00 pm
Location
Len Hill Park