{"id":209843,"date":"2025-10-08T19:43:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T19:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/209843\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T19:43:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T19:43:08","slug":"kowloon-restaurant-will-be-more-modern-than-original-architect-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/209843\/","title":{"rendered":"Kowloon restaurant will be \u2018more modern\u2019 than original, architect says"},"content":{"rendered":"

Plans for a reimagined Kowloon<\/a> restaurant are shaping up, with the architecture firm hired by its owners presenting renderings of the downsized Saugus eatery<\/a> to town officials.<\/p>\n

The proposal situates a new, more modern Kowloon<\/a> on the ground floor of a six-story apartment complex located where the iconic 1,200-seat restaurant known for its tiki drinks and immersive decor<\/a> now stands. <\/p>\n

New Hampshire-based firm Dennis Mires, The Architects showed sketches at a Saugus Planning Board meeting last Thursday, and town officials could approve the plans before the end of the year, partner Michael McKeown told the Globe on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

After the proposal is approved and a building permit secured, construction on the complex at 948 Broadway along Route 1 could begin as soon as \u201clate spring or summer\u201d of next year, McKeown said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope to be through approvals before the end of the year,\u201d McKeown said.<\/p>\n

The proposal calls for two apartment buildings with 198 one-bedroom units; the ground floor would house \u201chigh-end commercial\u201d units, the firm told the planning board.<\/p>\n

The new Kowloon would accommodate only a fraction the current site\u2019s capacity, with around 300 or 400 seats, McKeown said.<\/p>\n

Although the plan could go through changes as part of the approval process, McKeown said the building\u2019s overall design is \u201cfairly dialed in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe new Kowloon restaurant will be on the ground floor of an apartment complex with nearly 200 units. Courtesy of Dennis Mires, The Architects<\/p>\n

\u201cThere may be finessing and adjustments here and there, but this is otherwise finalized,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The interior of the new Kowloon will look like a more modern version of the original, with lots of glass and natural light, McKeown said, noting that the Wong family, which owns Kowloon, wanted the design to have a \u201cclean aesthetic.\u201d <\/p>\n

To the chagrin of some fans of the pan-Asian restaurant, the building will lack the recognizable giant A frame shape.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey wanted something modern with lots of color\u201d and \u201cto carry on that wonderful experience that their patrons have when they visit the restaurant,\u201d McKeown said.<\/p>\n

Construction will take place in phases, with a temporary restaurant opening at the site before Kowloon settles into its permanent new home. That way, the restaurant, which has employed some of its staff for decades, won\u2019t have to close \u201cfor a single day,\u201d McKeown said.<\/p>\n

He said the Wong family solicited his firm after noticing their work redeveloping the roadside giant Orange Dinosaur<\/a>, also along Route 1 in Saugus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat caught the eye of the Wong family,\u201d McKeown said.<\/p>\n

Claire Thornton can be reached at claire.thornton@globe.com<\/a>. Follow Claire on X @claire_thornto<\/a>.<\/p>\n