Payag Restaurant
Aug. 1, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
Payag, a well-known Filipino restaurant located at 51-34 Roosevelt Ave., is closing and is up for sale.
The abrupt announcement came July 27, when the restaurant owner posted her plans on Facebook.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announced officially the closing of Payag restaurant,” part of the message reads.
The text is accompanied by images of the restaurant’s interior and exterior, and with a message pointing to the politics of the owner.
“The place that touched so many Filipinos & strongly support Pres. Duterte,” part of the overlaying message reads.
Although the announcement was abrupt, Rena Avendula, the owner of the restaurant, said she had been thinking about closing shop for a while after becoming embroiled in a lawsuit against a former business partner, which led to her business being bashed by people who weren’t on her side, and after her pro-Duterte stance alienated some of her customers.
“Financially, I’m affected,” Avendula, 50, said. “I feel it’s a wise decision to go in a different direction.”
With the restaurant wrapping up its last day of service on July 31, Avendula has no plans for opening another restaurant or business, instead taking this time to recover from the controversies that have plagued her business.
Payag restaurant opened in 2010, and became a well-known gathering spot for Filipinos.
“I just want to thank them that they were there throughout the years,” Avendula said of her patrons. “The restaurant has helped so many Filipinos.”
