Lan Kwai Fong Group expands with new Xi’an site
Allan Zeman, founder and chair of Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong Group, reveals long-term growth plans in Mainland China.
Friday afternoon in Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong meant happy hour, and the vibe was festive. Film crew members shouted during sound checks for an event in preparation while office workers and tourists bypass them as they sought chilled watering holes on a hot summer day.
Perched high above the ruckus on the 21st floor of California Tower is the private office of Allan Zeman, with a full view of the action below through floor to ceiling windows.
Zeman first arrived in Hong Kong as an exporter capitalising on the city’s rag trade in the 1970s.
Considered by many to be the de facto father of Lan Kwai Fong – a hub for bars, clubs and restaurants in central Hong Kong – Zeman established his original California restaurant and bar in 1983 as a place to entertain visiting clients.
The Montreal native chose California as a theme because the sunshine state conjured up images of non-stop quality fun.
Lan Kwai Fong Group, originally situated in a tiny block nestled between Central and Mid-Levels, has grown over the years into an exportable concept for a hybrid East-meets-West nightlife destination.
Today, the group’s 16-year-old Chengdu outpost remains a hopping hotspot for the Sichuan capital.
And Zeman is now on track to launch Xi’an LKF in 2026.
“Xi’an is part of a huge kilometre-long complex,” explained Zeman. “There will be 10,000 people working in two commercial areas: one is operated by us and the other by MixC. Four big blocks are going up full of F&B outlets, clubs, all the latest, and all with the latest technology including EV chargers in the car parks. One of those blocks is dedicated to health and wellness – a huge trend after the pandemic. We have a gym in this tower and people are always going for drinks after they work out.”
Zeman’s success lies in his ability to understand what people want – a trait which has allowed him to stay ahead of the curve throughout his career.
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Looking back, Zeman saw the potential for Lan Kwai Fong to grow beyond a tiny Hong Kong square to become synonymous with entertainment and the city’s vibrant nightlife.
“Lan Kwai Fong is very famous in many parts of the world,” he said. And his success in both Hong Kong and Chengdu has caught the attention of officials in other parts of the Mainland. “I have been approached by so many in China after Chengdu LKF — so many party secretaries who want to bring our vibe to their city. We have to be relevant to what young people seek today,” he said.
The business magnate has been in discussion with municipal governments in two Shenzhen sites along with Xiamen and Sanya to develop the Lan Kwai Fong concept in the Chinese destinations.
“Everyone knows me and would like me to come take a look at potential sites they hope to develop,” he noted. “The Lan Kwai Fong idea keeps expanding. Like fashion, trends change often, especially in today’s digital universe. China today is about live music, clubbing and it has great restaurants all over the country. More change means increased spending. If we give them what they like, they will be back.”
Zeman stays on top of trends by dipping his toes into many ponds. He previously served as chair of Ocean Park from 2003 to 2014 and earned the nickname ‘Mouse Killer’ for catapulting the theme park to compete successfully against Hong Kong Disneyland during his tenure.
His current roster of duties included chair of Wynn Macau, member of the council of advisers for the Hong Kong chief executive John Lee and independent non-executive director with Television Broadcast Limited (TVB).
As for the original Lan Kwai Fong, Zeman is ever the optimistic salesman: “I have been in this industry long enough to see its ups and downs. We are now less dependent on the American market. On the flip side, Hong Kong now boasts 3,000 family offices — second only to Zurich which I predict we will beat soon. Those bring in a lot of people and force us to keep changing the way we do business. Tech also does that. Young people in IT make a lot of money and want to let off steam, so they go partying.”
For Zeman, developing these concepts is about more than just money.
“F&B should never be just about return on investments,” he cautioned. “It is a people business, and the people doing it should love meeting different people from all over the world. It’s a fun business and can be very addictive — like a drug. Because who doesn’t want to have a good time after a stressful day at work?”
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