Raseiniai is saying goodbye to a unique culinary experience as “Kinų Jūra” (Chinese Sea), a beloved restaurant specializing in Chinese cuisine, has closed its doors. The closure, announced on social media, stems not from financial difficulties or a changing market, but from a complex situation involving lease agreements and a shift in municipal control, leaving the restaurant’s chef seeking new opportunities in Vilnius.
The restaurant, which operated for five years, had become a local favorite, drawing customers not only from Raseiniai but also from surrounding areas. According to a Facebook post, the decision to close was made after “long deliberations and doubts.” The post expressed particular sorrow for the restaurant’s chef, Mao, who had plans to expand the menu and was deeply connected to the restaurant’s patrons. “Believe me, it’s not easy to do this… when it’s not up to us, but a consequence of bureaucratic decisions,” the post stated.
The unusual circumstances surrounding the closure center on the property on which the restaurant was located – land owned by the Raseiniai district municipality. Dalia Lukauskienė, head of the “Raseinių turgus” (Raseiniai Market) tiny enterprise, explained that the restaurant initially occupied a portion of a pavilion rented for trade five years ago. With permissions secured, they decided to establish a café in the unused space. “We found a very fine Chinese chef through acquaintances. Everything worked out. All the Chinese attributes, the walls… five years passed, my contract with the municipality expired. In short, the entire property is reverting to the municipality. They wanted to give it to the Raseiniai communal utility company. It happened from the New Year,” Lukauskienė told Delfi.
Lukauskienė said they had hoped to reach an agreement with the communal utility company, but “something went wrong.” Two months passed with no resolution, leaving the chef, who had been provided with accommodation, in a precarious position. “We observe that nothing is happening. Laws have also changed – maybe that’s hindering things, I don’t know. We aren’t being explained in detail,” she said.
A Chef Displaced
The chef, known only as Mao, has been forced to seek employment in Vilnius, leaving behind the restaurant and the community he had come to cherish. Lukauskienė noted that he was earning a substantial salary and that his departure represents a loss of jobs – at least four, with more during the summer months – including positions held by people with disabilities and Ukrainian nationals. “He wants to be here. Both the people and the team had become close. All the jobs have been lost. The chef has moved to Vilnius to look for function, and is moving out of his apartment. He can’t live for months without a salary, and We find no prospects,” Lukauskienė stated.
While changes to value-added tax (VAT) for the hospitality sector are a concern, Lukauskienė emphasized that these were not the primary cause of the closure. “We had customers, as you can see from the comments,” she said, referencing the outpouring of support the restaurant received online after news of its closure spread.
Bureaucratic Delays
Lukauskienė expressed frustration with the lack of communication and decisive action from the municipality. “Now I’m getting a lot of questions and calls from both the ruling parties and the opposition… In business, we don’t act like this – if there’s a problem, we solve it immediately. But here, I can only call it bureaucracy, to sit and do nothing for two months,” she said. She clarified that she is the head of the small enterprise, while the café operated as a separate, specially established company.
A request for comment was sent to the Raseiniai district municipality, with a response anticipated. The closure of “Kinų Jūra” has sparked an outpouring of support from customers online, with many lamenting the loss of a unique dining option in Raseiniai. Some expressed fears that the town would be left with limited culinary diversity, while others simply expressed their sadness at losing a favorite restaurant and the distinctive Chinese cuisine it offered – the only such option in the region.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by small businesses navigating local regulations and municipal decisions. As of now, the Raseiniai district municipality has not publicly commented on the closure of “Kinų Jūra” or the reasons behind the transfer of the property to the Raseiniai communal utility company. Further updates will be provided as they become available.
The next step in this developing story is awaiting a response from the Raseiniai district municipality regarding the transfer of the property and the reasons behind the decision. We will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
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