Longtime Puyallup-area restaurant announces final days of operation. Here are the details
A longtime Puyallup-area restaurant family specializing in Cantonese and Mandarin cuisine has officially announced the end of business after more than 40 years.
In a news release and announcement on social media and its website, House of Kee, 15305 Meridian E., said it was closing permanently later this month.
Whether it will become a Chick-fil-A site is still to be determined.
House of Kee’s final days of operation will begin Dec. 6 and end Dec. 15 with hours of 4-7:30 p.m.
The restaurant said it would offer “a limited menu and be available for takeout and bar service only,” and no dine-in service.
The business began after Peter Kee settled with his family in Puyallup in the 1970s. The family opened Sea Dragon restaurant in summer of 1977 in Puyallup. In 1982, the second Sea Dragon restaurant opened in South Hill — now the current House of Kee restaurant.
Since Peter’s retirement, the restaurant has been run by his son, William, and daughter Mary.
In a notice on the restaurant’s website, the restaurant cited “changes in the current economic environment and shortage in staffing,” as contributing factors in the closure.
The notice added, “We appreciate your many years of patronage and support. We will miss seeing your happy faces!”
Chick-fil-A filed plans with the county earlier in 2023 to convert the restaurant site to its second Puyallup-area location as a drive-thru.
William Kee, in a brief phone interview, acknowledged that the national chicken sandwich chain was “very interested” in the property, but plans had yet to be worked out with the county on a drive-thru.
“The size is just about perfect for them,” he added, speaking of Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
House of Kee’s fans took to social media Sunday to mark the end of an era, with one recalling driving all the way from Washougal to dine in, while others recalled memories of Sea Dragon and Sea Dragon South.
“Been enjoying your Cantonese since the Sea Dragon and Sea Dragon South days and Mary has always been our favorite waitress. I’ll be there for one last meal,” wrote a customer on Facebook.
This story was originally published December 5, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
