Imperial Garden to remain after property owner scraps apartment plans

Middleton Chinese restaurant Imperial Garden and an adjacent Asian grocery store are safe from the wrecking ball, at least for now.

Tom Sanford, who assisted property owner Henry Chen in his proposed redevelopment plans, tells Isthmus that Chen “has decided not to redevelop the property at this time.” Sanford says Chen was “disappointed” that Middleton’s plan commission on Nov. 11 recommended the city council deny rezoning the property to allow for a 10-story, 195-unit apartment building.

“So, nothing will change and the Imperial Garden Restaurant will continue serving excellent Chinese food as usual,” Sanford says.

The project initially called for the razing of Imperial Garden and the adjacent Garden Asian Market, both tenants of Chen’s, to make room for the new development...