Stan Chu’s legacy as a trailblazer lives on in Langford.
The man who opened the city’s first Asian restaurant in 1969 is now part of a partnership to open downtown Langford’s first hotel.
The groundbreaking on Wednesday for the 103-room, six-storey TownePlace Suites by Marriott on Goldstream Avenue was a proud moment for Chu, 91. He was joined by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sitting under a shaded tent, his hands resting on a cane, Chu was all smiles. City officials joined members of his family and builders to announce the $28-million hotel, expected to open in the spring of 2027.
It will sit on the site where Chu moved Stan’s Langford Restaurant in 1980, just down Goldstream from the original spot when the family moved from Victoria.
“I’m very happy,” Chu said.
The Marriott is a partnership between Chu’s family company, Hoon Goon Holdings Inc., Sargent Construction and Metropolitan Hospitality Management led by Len Wansbrough, a long-time residential and commercial builder on the West Shore.
Wansbrough said the Marriott will be made up of one-bedroom and studio units, all with kitchens. It will have an indoor pool, fitness facilities and workplaces and underground parking, tailored for extended stays and weekend getaways, welcoming tourism and business travellers.
Wansbrough’s Metropolitan Hospitality Management already operates Holiday Inn Express locations in Colwood and Courtenay, Holiday Inn Elk Lake and Motel 6 on the Saanich Peninsula.
“Langford and the West Shore are really growing and need a new hotel to support the economy and the business community here,” said Wanbrough.
The hotel is expected to be an attraction for visiting staff and faculty at the nearby Royal Roads University’s John Horgan campus, opening next month, and for events at Starlight Stadium and the international-class Jordie Lunn Bike Park.
It will be only the third hotel in Langford, after the Bear Mountain Resort and Four Points Sheraton — both located on the east side of Langford across the Trans Canada Highway.
Stan Chu’s son, Holden Chu, said the family structures of each of the business partners were key to a successful plan for the hotel. The Wansbrough and Sargent families are multi-generational companies operating through the decades on the West Shore.
Holden Chu said the family had several opportunities to develop the one-acre property, which included the restaurant and two older single-family homes. But his father didn’t like having more condominiums.
“When we got to the stage of development, dad said I want something that benefits the community,” said Holden Chu. “We had lots of condos, lots of commercial space with the big box stores. But when we heard hotel, Dad and my sister and I said yes, that’s it. That’s something the community needs.
“We feel so blessed that Dad is here to see it. He still lives independently. He still drives … so this is his legacy.”
Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson said there is an advantage to having a hotel in the city’s downtown core, adding it will attract more international events and visitors while directly benefiting local businesses such as shops and restaurants.
Brian Cant, president of 4TVI Tourism Vancouver Island, said a new hotel is needed on the West Shore.
“It’s a welcome sight for tourism on the South Island,” said Cant. “It’s an indicator that Langford continues to position itself as a place to be and visit.”
Cant said he can’t think of a better location, and the timing is good as well.
“We’ve seen a large increase in domestic visitors from all over Canada this year,” he said. “Tourism is resilient, and the last five years have proven that. Indications of new properties coming online really sets us up well.”
Holden Chu said his father’s “entrepreneurial spirit” will live on.
“My grandfather arrived in Canada in 1919 and paid the head tax, paving the way for our family in Canada and this community. Dad’s restaurants began in the 1950s in Victoria before coming out here. Growing up in the 1970s with my sister, Jan Dong, we worked every part of the restaurant, and that gave us a work ethic and community that my father wanted to teach us.”
“It’s all for my dad today,” Holden Chu said. “Thank you, Dad, for making this Gold Mountain dream real with a gold shovel today to fulfil your legacy.”
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