Lettuce represents liveliness and business prosperity, while oranges symbolize good luck.Īlso on hand was Nikki Yang, Panda Express area coach of operations. Toward the end, the lions spit heads of lettuce into the air, followed by oranges. One of the dancers used a hand fan to sweep “good energy” out into the community. The celebration culminated with an energetic lion dance to pounding drums outside the store. (Photo by The Village Sun) From left, influencers Nina Berezin (The Queen Foodie) and Sharm Sil (Average Socialite) with store manager Matine Ouro Kefia, Panda area operations coach Nikki Yang and influencer Steph (stephtravels-nyc). It really tastes like real chicken.” Influencers snapped photos of the food to post on their social-media pages. “My mom’s probably more excited than me.”Īnother praised the chain’s plant-based menu, noting, “I’m vegetarian. “I love Panda Express,” one of them said. They included The Queen Foodie (Nina Berezin), stephtravels-NYC (who goes by Steph) and Sharm Sil, editor in chief of Average Socialite. “I’ll be going to the one Uptown at Columbia,” Wong noted.Īlso at the fete was another key group for any restaurant opening nowadays - influencers.
#PANDA POP 2 FREE FREE#
The winning first eight customers can use their free meals at any of the 2,400 Panda Expresses. (Photo by The Village Sun)Īlso part of their group, Jenny Wong said she got to know the brand from its outlet at the Newport Mall, in Jersey City, where she worked.
(Photo by The Village Sun) The first 88 customers on July 20 got free T-shirts. (Photo by The Village Sun) The lucky eight. Luckily, she had a fold-up chair for the overnight.Īvila said she ranks Panda Express over other local Chinese restaurants partly because of their better takeout containers. She was happy to finally enter the store, having waited since 2 a.m. “I’m tired of McDonald’s,” Avila said, with relief. She added that, previously, the chain had no restaurants near them. “I’m so excited,” Velasquez said, sporting a pink “Barbie” shirt and cap. Something else they all share in common: They love Panda Express. Three of them - Jessica Avila, Ray Lopez and Patricia Velasquez - live nearby in the East Village and Lower East Side.
#PANDA POP 2 FREE MOVIE#
(Photo by The Village Sun) (Photo by The Village Sun)Įvertz is part of a Facebook friends group who attend pop-ups for beauty products, ice cream and the like and movie premieres together - and they were all waiting in line right behind her. (Photo by The Village Sun) The first eight on line got their swag. “I love their walnut shrimp and beef with broccoli,” she said, adding, “Oh, I can’t forget - the teriyaki chicken.” The sign of the Panda. She became familiar with the brand from one of its stores that opened in the Bronx. A former health aide and current reseller, she had been there since 7:30 p.m. at the corner of 14th Street and First Avenue was Natali Evertz, 31, from the Bronx. The first person waiting on line when the door opened at 10 a.m. The chain brands its fare as uniquely “American Chinese.” Its top seller is its Original Orange Chicken®. (Photo by The Village Sun)Įight, or ba, is the luckiest number in Chinese culture because it sounds like fa, meaning prosperous in business. Some had foldable chairs they used for the overnight wait. (Photo by The Village Sun) A group of Facebook friends dominated the top eight spots, including from right, Jenny Wong, Patricia Velasquez, Ray Lopez, Jessica Avila and Wendy D. Natali Evertz, right, and Kevin Lam were the first two people in line. In addition, the first 88 customers got Panda Express gift cards and T-shirts. In reality, it will be one free meal every other week. BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | After more than a year of its storefront being ready for business yet sitting empty, the new Panda Express in the East Village finally opened last month.Īs part of the festivities, the first eight customers waiting on line on the morning of July 20 won what was billed as “a year’s supply” of free meals.
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