Casa Group turns Sauce into tapas bar as Lock family quit restaurant struggle

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James Bradshaw, Casa Group shareholder

The Lock family has exited the restaurant business after selling Sauce to the Casa Group, Clare Benson Lock said. Casa bought the licences, including outdoor seating which it had been unable to acquire at Hoi Pong Square.

James Bradshaw, Casa shareholder, said the group will turn the Sauce site into another Casa. It will have the same grey spartan decor with blackboard menus and will be a tapas and wine bar. The existing Casa at Hoi Pong Square will continue to serve craft beers but switch to Mexican food. The group also opened a second Casa at Sai Ying Pun recently.  James said Courtney Horwood has been named General Manager of all three restaurants.

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Nathan Fleck, Casa shareholder and chef trainer at Spatu-la, hamming it up on Facebook

Clare, wife of Ivan who operated Sauce, was emphatic they are not going to invest further in restaurants.  “No. Absolutely not.” Ivan will help Casa with the transition, then take a break before deciding what to do, she said.  Clare posted on Facebook:  “Saying good-bye to Sauce after 15 years. It’s seen Ivan and I go through many changes. Lots of memories, lots of drunken nights, lots of people met, lots of friends made, lots of stress…It’s really the end of an era.”

Clare has her Man Nin St playschool on the market for sale.  She also operates a dog training business, recently profiled in SAI KUNG BUZZ. The Lock family will remain in Sai Kung, she said.

Ivan confirmed the rent for the Sauce restaurant is $88,000 a month. Depending on configuration, the restaurant has 32 seats outside and 26 inside.

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