A fixture in San Diego's Clairemont neighborhood for over 40 years, Panda Country restaurant has announced its permanent closure.
After operating on a limited basis for the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic and associated safety precautions, Panda Country ownership took to social media to announce they are permanently closed. Panda Country first opened as Panda Inn at 4455 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in San Diego's Clairemont community. The restaurant has been owned and operated by Sai Cheong Li, who presented a menu based around Szechuan-style Chinese cuisine. It is reported that ownership chose to close in order to retire.
Last April, Restaurant Business magazine reported that more than half of the Chinese restaurants in the United States had closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was also partly a result of consumer prejudice and misperceptions. According to a study by credit card processing company Womply, 59% of Chinese restaurants had stopped taking credit card transactions. This is a huge percentage compared to other styles of restaurants, as the second-highest closure rate is mixed menus quick-service with 15% closures.
