Hansen Weng
Hansen Weng is a restauranteur who owned and operated the Millenium Buffet, a Chinese buffet for three months in the former H. L. Franklin's lounge at the Comfort Inn on Montgomery Highway.
Weng claimed to be a New York restauranteur and consultant who, with a partner, operated 10 Chinese buffets across the northeast and midwest. He told the Birmingham Business Journal that he sold his stake in the partnership in order to move to Birmingham and launch a new string of restaurants here.
In 2002 Hensen agreed to purchase the former Ollie's Barbecue location at the corner of Valleydale Road and Montgomery Highway in Hoover. He brought two grocery sacks full of cash to pay the $50,000 due at closing. He made one monthly payment and began renovations by removing the central barbecue pit and leaving a hole in the roof open to the sky.
Weng spent $250,000 remodeling the former lounge in Vestavia. He fell behind on his rent there and removed equipment on which the landlord had a lien. He then left town.
References
- Nicholson, Gilbert (August 16, 2002) "New Yorker brings Chinese buffets to Birmingham." Birmingham Business Journal
- Nicholson, Gilbert (July 25, 2003) "Restaurant investor leaves properties." Birmingham Business Journal
- Nicholson, Gilbert (October 17, 2003) "Florida Grille moving to former Ollie's spot." Birmingham Business Journal