China Garden Belmont
 

I read in Saturday's Laconia Daily Sun that China Garden in Belmont is up for public auction. Anyone know what is going on?

It is also on JSJ Auctions:

https://jsjauctions.com/listings/mix...-busy-route-3/

Town getting rid of property that it acquired because someone didn't pay the taxes.

and to think since covid every year they jacked up their prices, almost like they did it on purpose and ran with the money as an exit strategy

Is the parcel owned by the operators of the restaurant?

I believe the Chin family has always owned it.

Town of Belmont owns it.

Green Ginger
 

Most people go to the Green Ginger right down the road. Sure that didn’t help…

Dan

Are they the same folks that once had a Chinese buffet at the Belmont Marketplace?

China Garden always is empty. Only went once during Covid and it wasn’t great. Never went back.

Green ginger is the best option up here.

Tax records from June 2025 show property at 200 Daniel Webster HWY, location of China Garden, is owned by Don Mon Chin. When did the Town of Belmont become the owner?

Yup, by far!

Dan

When Don Mon Chin was unable or unwilling to pay the tax bill..........??????

I went several times and like their food.

It is quite empty every time I drive by.

:(

The auction site says the house and restaurant are both occupied by "long term tenants."

That implies that the operator of the restaurant is not the owner.

Not a great source, but it's all over FB that the restaruant owners are not the property owners.

Not to say a cousin owns the property and another the business or some such shenanigans, but it appears they want to stay a tenant if possible.

The food is God-Awful, Green Ginger or better Eastern Paradise in Rochester (better Sushi than Chinese) are a better bet. Million Dollar in Tilton isn't terrible either.

If you check the link in the original post it states....

"We have been retained by the Town of Belmont to sell at PUBLIC AUCTION this town-owned property that was acquired by Tax Collector's Deed"

So they missed the deadline on paying the back taxes, and the town and lost the property.

Chinese
 

I met the owner of the China Garden business. His name is Don Ho, he is not the owner of the building.

Ultimate Thai next to the Wellness Center on N Main St in Laconia is excellent! The name implied Thai, but the menu includes Chinese staples. The place is busy! The food is excellent! I like the idea of making dishes in various degrees of hotness.

Been my go to since they open! You should check it out. Take outs only. You can order by phone or website.

Sure beats the drive to Tilton!

Neither Google or ChatGPT can find Ultimate Thai…they both refer to Original Thai on N Main st

Original Thai
 

It is "Original Thai" on North Main St, Laconia. Here's their website...
https://www.originalthainh.com/

Dan

China Garden is still running ads in the Sun as of Friday 1/9/2025?

The property is owned by the town and up for auction.
The business is not.

It lays it all out in the link the OP provided.

I called them this morning and was told they are open until 8:30 this evening 1/13/2026

Auction Scheduled
 

From the Laconia Sun:

Hosted by JSJ Auction of Epping, the auction will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30. Bidders must pay a $10,000 non-refundable deposit by the time of sale, with another deposit of $15,000 due by Friday, Feb. 6.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...d2875b879.html

Building Purchase
 

Any word on who bought the China Garden property? Auction was 1-30-26.

Restaurant remains open.
 

Kevin Hutchinson bought it. The restaurant will remain open.

From the Laconia Sun:

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...9870c3c6b.html