Friendly local watering hole sees blessings of charity
WHILE ITS history (and liquor license) might suggest otherwise, Mary Ann Yeung wants you to know that 8 Fat Fat 8 Bar and Grille is no different from your favorite watering hole.
“So many people don’t know what we are or have the wrong idea about us,” she said. “They think we’re a strip or hostess bar.”
According to the Honolulu Liquor Commission, they are. The bar’s license allows for those activities, and Yeung said she’d heard stories about Sandy’s, an establishment in the same spot before 8 Fat Fat 8.
But during the 22 years since Yeung’s father, the late Chun Sai Yeung, opened it with a hui of Chinese businessmen, the bar has become a haven for nearby apartment dwellers and office workers in search of a friendly pau-hana spot.
“It is a family business … and we hope that everyone who visits us will leave better in some way than when they entered,” she said. “We know people work hard and it makes us feel great when people come (to) eat, drink, have a good time and leave … better off to deal with another day.”
Yeung didn’t spend a lot of time at 8 Fat Fat 8 when she was younger, since her father had dedicated his life to running the business.
“I only came here to eat,” she said with a laugh. “But I did have my graduation party here!”
These days, the 31-year old helps her mother, Pui Sheung “Nancy” Yeung, manage a staff of 11 employees at the bar. The elder Yeung is around almost every day, watching over the kitchen and talking story with longtime regulars, many of whom enjoy their bottled beers chilled in a glass of ice.
“All sorts of people come here,” Yeung said. “We have a younger crowd, and then there’s the older crowd and the office people.”
With respect to the Yeungs’ Chinese heritage and in recognition of the 08-08-08 date, 8 Fat Fat 8 plans a celebration tomorrow. The family ordered special fortune cookies and will use them as a way to give out prizes.
In addition to hooking up one lucky winner with a trip to Las Vegas, Yeung hopes the party will help raise funds for charity. The fortune cookies will be free, but customers will be asked to make a donation to help support Special Olympics of Hawaii.
“We’re going to be showing the Olympics in high-def on our 8-foot screen,” she said. “So we thought it would be fitting to donate some money … to them.
“When we attempted to contact (Special Olympics of Hawaii), we learned they’re our neighbors … and what was really cool was that their phone number is 943-8808! After explaining that we’re neighbors and wanted to reach out with a donation, they gave us their blessing.”
Yeung said the bar hopes to recruit additional sponsors to give away more trips, after the first was secured with the family’s frequent flier miles. Their hope is that by creating and sharing good fortune with their customers, 8 Fat Fat 8 will be blessed by good fortune of its own in the months and years to come.
“We’d still like to run the giveaway throughout the Olympics to raise as much money as we can,” said Yeung. “Who knows, maybe we’ll be able to donate $888 or more.
“We’re still working out the details, but it’s going to be exciting!”
8 Fat Fat 8 Bar and Grille
>> Location: 1327 S. Beretania St.
>> Call 596-2779.
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We hope that everyone who visits us will leave better in some way than when they entered.”
Mary Ann Yeung
8 Fat Fat 8
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