MANSFIELD — A downtown mainstay won’t disappear thanks to Dan Lew, who is taking over Ed Pickens’ Events and Catering, effective April 1.
Lew, chef and owner of China Club, is bringing his culinary expertise to the North Main Street operation, which will eventually include a restaurant that serves lunch and dinner, in addition to its catering services.
He’s planning to incorporate facets of his current and former businesses into this new operation, which will be known as Dan Lew Exchange.
Before opening China Club in 2003, he operated his own deli and catering service, Paisley Park, on Lexington Avenue. He also previously owned a liquor store before selling it to Kroger.
This past September, he sold the popular restaurant ABC Kitchen, which opened early last year in Lexington.
The opportunity to take over Pickens’ operation was “good timing more than anything,” Lew said. “I’ve been catering pretty much my whole life as part of different food operations.”
A temporary logo, “Dan & Ed’s Excellent Adventure Events & Catering” has been created during the transition period — a tribute to the 1989 film, “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”
Lew said eventually the catering service will be called Deluxe Catering and Events.
He’s still pondering a name for the restaurant, which is tentatively scheduled to open in September.
Lunch items will include soups, salads, sandwiches and New York style pizza by the slice. Dinner options will range from steak to seafood, with cuisines that represent a variety of cultures, such as Spanish, Mexican and Asian.
The restaurant will include a bar. There will also be a patio along Park Street, looking out to Central Park.
Lew plans to maintain China Club. Eventually, the restaurant on Park Avenue West could become something else, he said, as he incorporates China Club dishes into his new downtown restaurant.
Lew said he’s keeping any of the employees of Ed Pickens’ Events and Catering who wish to remain.
Pickens, who announced his retirement earlier this year after 46 years in food service, will stay on during the transition period to help the business continue providing regular catering and event services.
“He done a great job,” Lew said of Pickens. “I have the utmost respect for him.”
On the Ed Pickens website, Pickens wrote, “Dan is a Mansfield native and has many years of restaurant and catering experience.
“His knowledge of this area and the customers we both serve will enable him to carry on the quality of food and service you have come to expect over the years with Ed Pickens’ Events and Catering.”
