General News
26 April, 2026
News on Chinese menu
“People kept asking them where they were going next, when would they open something else, so it was a no-brainer to have them here in the main street."
AN ICONIC Napier Street shop has entered a new stage in its glorious history.
Abby TanYi Mei and Kien Horng Leu, with significant help from landlord and friend Ross Pritchard, are transforming the former Mercury building into the home of St Arnaud’s new Chinese Restaurant.
Mr Pritchard said there was an opportunity to add to St Arnaud’s growing hospitality offering they had to take.
“Abby and Kien are known around town and when they left their spot at the Club [not the St Arnaud Sporting Club], they were looking for somewhere else to go,” he said.
“People kept asking them where they were going next, when would they open something else, so it was a no-brainer to have them here in the main street.
“We have such a great hospitality scene here in St Arnaud and we needed a Chinese restaurant.”
Abby said she was touched to hear people in town and from other surrounding towns were following their journey to opening their dream.
“I recieved three bunches of flowers from customers when we opened,” she said.
“In the last two weeks, we’ve seen people come in to try and they come back a few more times that week.
“We even have people coming from Charlton and Donald, it’s so lovely to have that kind of support.”
Abby said since opening officially on April 6, they have had a lot of customers come through the door.
“Our first weeek was crazy,” she said.
“But it’s levelling out now and we know what people want to eat.
“Every day is different, but we’re loving every minute.
Malaysian-born chef Kien has been qualified for many years and has worked in various hospitality establishments around Australia for the last 10 years.
“There’s a lot of experience in this building,” Mr Pritchard said.
“And the food speaks for itself.”
The team offers a range of Australian-Chinese meals for lunch and dinner, including the popular Singapore noodles, lemon chicken, special fried rice, sweet and sour pork, vegetarian options and more.
Mr Pritchard, who has owned the St Arnaud Mercury building, 79-81 Napier Street, for 30 years, has seen 15 different tenants take over the premisis.
“We’ve had pop up shops, clothing stores, restaurants, anything you can think of,” he said.
“The three of us had a dream to create something special for St Arnaud and grow the town’s offering and we’re finally doing it now.
“Abby and Kien came to me in late 2024 and we’ve been working hard to get Mercury up and running since.
“We still have work to do, but we’re proud of how far we’ve come.”
The building was constructed in 1914 to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the St. Arnaud Mercury newspaper that had been established in 1864 by Evans and Somerton.
The building replaced an earlier structure that had also been occupied by the Mercury newspaper.
While the shop is open for take away only, the team hopes to have their dine-in restaurant up and running by Mother’s Day.
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