Pandan Fusion Lounge to Shut Doors This Week

It’s been two years since Pandan Fusion Lounge expanded from its Hackettstown location to call Long Valley a home away from home.

Unfortunately, the foot traffic wasn’t high enough for the business to sustain itself, and announced it will be closing at the end of this week.

Owner Jay Chai enjoyed the restaurant’s time in Long Valley, he said, but realized it was time to bring his business elsewhere.

“There just wasn’t enough traffic in this location,” Chai told Patch. “Our customers have said they are sad to see us go, but I think it was the bring your own aspect that kept them going to our Hackettstown location.”

Chai will continue on with the two restaurant workload, however, as he plans to open a new shop on Main Street in Hackettstown that will offer Vietnamese cuisine.

That venture will take up to six months to see through to fruition, he said, but the restaurant is in the works.

Long Valley Patch readers voted Pandan Fusion Lounge “Best Ethnic” food in the area during the summer of 2012.

“Everybody is educated here, and I think we’ll do well in this environment,” Chai said to Patch in 2011, shortly after opening.

Pandan Fusion Lounge was part of Restaurant Village, which includes the Long Valley Pub and Brewery, Andrea’s Dining Room, and the Wine & Café Bar.

Restaurant Village marketing director Andrea Maletta-Bussel said the ownership is considering bringing back Chinese food to the group of businesses.

"We feel Chinese may be more appreciated and familiar in Long Valley," she said.