CHINA JUMP closed

	EATERTAINMENT


By Ben Nadarajan The Straights Times Friday July 8th 2005 Poole Associates has been working on the new China Jump design since January. "We did a full revamp study for the old location, and it just didn't add up" says Ed Poole. "For the amount to be spent, we are better off with a clean slate".	< Design story, click logo Update March 2008 \| Clark Martin has been blacklisted 09.17 deceased HOT NIGHTSPOT CHINA JUMP CLOSES ITS DOORS Surprise closure comes after holding company lost all its shares in the pub One of Singapore's most popular nightspots, China Jump Bar and Grill, has closed down after eight rip-roaring years. The drinking hole, an icon in Chijmes since 1997, shut its doors a few days ago and its landlord has taken over the outlet. However, the pub's owner, Mr. Michael Hough, said China Jump will be back - in a new location - after a revamp in its concept. The surprise closure comes after China Jump's holding company, Eat Your Heart Out, recently lost all its shares in the pub. Its shares in Ocho Spanish Tapas Bar at Chijmes and Cafe Society at The Arts House were also seized by the court bailiff. The order to take possession of the assets of Eat Your Heart Out was granted after its former director, Mr George Clark Martin, sued the company over payment for his shares in the outlets after he quit the partnership. Mr. Martin, 38, said Eat Your Heart Out failed to live up to its agreement to pay him $140,000 for his shares in the three outlets. But Mr Hough, 45, said closing the company's prized assest had nothing to do with his former partner's lawsuit. "We've had eight good years with Chijmes, but unfortunately, the site is no longer ideal for what we want to make China Jump into," he said. He said the company had exciting things lined up but would not "let the cat out of the bag". Nor did he say if there are any plans to close any other outlets. Chijmes general manager Han-Yong Li Lan said the pub's lease had expired at the end of last month and both parties decided not to renew it. She said that Chijmes is in the midst of discussions with other parties to take over the vacated space in its Fountain Court basement. At the closed China Jump yesterday, notices pasted on its glass doors said it was 'closed for upgrading". Staff at neighbouring restaurants and bars said the closure is very sudden. "One day, the place was packed with customers. The next, there was no one around at all," said a bartender at Father Flanagan's Irish Pub. "It was quite a shock for us when it didn't open for business." Eat Your Heart Out said most of the staff at China Jump have moved to its other outlets but some part-timers have been sacked. The mood among staff at Ocho has been subdued since the closure of China Jump. "We really don't know what's happening anymore," a waiter said. "Everything's a bit hush-hush now. But if they can close China Jump, who knows what else will happen?" Nightspot of the Year Tourism Awards 1999 Project Design Team 1997 : Poole Associates Private Limited Ed Poole, Andrew Jones, Rey Tadifa, Wong Kim Mei, Willy Baet contact@poole-associates.com T 65 \| 6536 \| 3928 Project Design Team 2005 : Poole Associates Private Limited Ed Poole, Wong Kim Mei, Roger Magsakay, Ramil Garcia, Hew Ling-Zhi, Marie Bogart contact@poole-associates.com T 65 \| 6536 \| 3928