Restaurateur sells eateries in East Honolulu

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i restaurateur Ed Wary has sold two of his newest restaurants, Auntie Pasto's on Kapahulu Avenue and Eddies Burgers & Frozen Custard on Wai'alae Avenue after sales fell short of expectations.

Both restaurants were sold for undisclosed prices.

Auntie Pasto's Kapahulu was bought by La Lieto Pasto Inc., which was incorporated by Hyon Young Chon. The new restaurant, La Lieto's, will essentially continue the Auntie Pasto's concept, retaining employees, menu items, prices and decor.

Eddies Burgers was bought by Y&W Associates, registered by Kai Wang Yeung. Y&W is expected to continue operating under the Eddies Burgers name.

Wary said selling the year-old Eddies Burgers and 4-year-old Auntie Pasto's were not distress sales. "To be a viable company, I need to have better performing restaurants," he said. "Both (restaurants) were underperforming according to our expectations."

Wary, who owns two Dixie Grill restaurants on O'ahu and the 20-year-old Auntie Pasto's on Beretania Street, said he is looking for locations to reopen a second Auntie Pasto's and a new version of Eddies Burgers in Central or West O'ahu.

Reach Andrew Gomes at 525-8065 or agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.