Upscale membership-based restaurant and bar M1NT, with China branches in Hong Kong and Shanghai, is slated to open in Beijing on New Year’s Eve* on the third and fourth floors of the Yintai building that houses the Park Hyatt. The place is expected to occupy about 1500 square meters and provide views of the CCTV Tower and, barring demolition, charred remains of the Mandarin Hotel.
According to one member, M1NT Beijing plans to have HK$48 million in equity, with HK$4 million set for pre-opening costs and HK$28 million for refurbishment and development. That sounds like a whole lot of shark tanks (I can hear The Village Grouch grinding, or snapping, his teeth at this very moment).
* Anyone want to start a pool on when the place actually opens?
(Hat tip to the Man of Mystery.)
How about a pool on when it goes belly up.
This place will likely have a three month soft launch followed by an even more nauseating grand opening.
As far as Shanghai club imports go, Klubb Rouge has had this city under its spell since opening and is still going very strong. This MINT thing stands no chance against the China View powerhouse.
I bet it opens before Crobar! I don’t understand the whole “private club” that lets anybody in thing works, but more power to them…
@ b. cheng,
It looks like Crobar will never open. As for the private club thing, not sure how that works, since it seems relatively easy to get into Mint in Shanghai.
Cheers, boyce
@ Doug,
Or a pool on whether or not is opens?
Cheers, boyce
@ Miyagi,
I can just see the free mag headlines when the place goes from “soft” to “grand” opening: “Re-minted.”
That’ll be on top of “Mint: A Refreshing Spot in Beijing”, “Mint: A Breath of Fresh Air,” ad nausea.
Cheers, boyce
@ DJ Chunky,
See, if Klubb Rouge had started as a private club, it would have been much better. Then, when you went there and found only 10 people in that huge space, you would feel as though you were one of the chosen few.
Cheers, boyce
Shanghai there is a lot of trouble for M1NT. Restaurant very terrible since chef gone. Most the senior staff resign or fired in last few month. Club not so busy on weekends. Members want money give back for sold membership as not private no more. Think that they trying make jump to Beijing so quickly before Shanghai maybe close or sold. Owner very arrogant and no body here like.
Don’t know what’s the bashing is all about. M1NT restaurant is better than before (if not to say really good since they changed food concept to grill) and the club is crazy packed always on Fri/Sat. Not my favorite place in SH but have to admit they’re sustaining and growing.