Main Moon Chinese Restaurant Updates Its Look, Keeps Popular Cuisine

Pete Cheng has been around the restaurant business practically from the day he was born.

His father left China for New York City in 1976, leaving Pete, his mother and his two brothers behind.

“My father came to America in 1976 and was working for other people in their restaurants,” said Cheng, who owns in Sussex.  “My two older brothers and my mom came over in 1982.” 

Main Moon, located at N64W24320 Main Street next to , specializes in Cantonese, Szechuan and Hunan cuisines. It’s a traditional Chinese dine-in or carry-out restaurant offering a wide variety of tempting dishes including many low calorie and vegetarian options. The restaurant also features a weekday lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“I cook everything myself so I try to prepare our foods with a high quality that I would enjoy eating myself.”

The story of how Cheng came to open his restaurant in Sussex in July of 1996 is actually pretty straightforward.

“We went from New York and my parents had different restaurants, moving to the Canton-Akron area of Ohio,” Cheng recalls. “My second brother also started a restaurant in Waunakee near Madison in 1995. He told me to come here and check it out.

“When I came up here, I stayed with him for a year and I started circling around to Janesville and the Milwaukee area. On the way back, I stopped here in Sussex and saw that Quad/Graphics was located in such a small town. I figured this area would have good potential. So I talked to my landlord and got the lease for my restaurant.”

"I was brought up in New York City where my parents had a restaurant... Sussex is the nicest place I’ve worked in, people-wise."

Cheng's instincts were correct. He, his wife, Ying, and their 13 year-old daughter, Katie, have been very much at home in Sussex. The whole family is involved in the restaurant, including Katie who takes phone orders and helps with the cash register.

Far from the congestion of New York City where his parents are now retired, the Chengs appreciate the people of Sussex and the quaint surroundings.

“I enjoy doing business in Sussex,” said Cheng. “The village has a lot of nice people and most of my customers are regulars. I was brought up in New York City where my parents had a restaurant. We started moving westward because there was too much restaurant competition in New York. Sussex is the nicest place I’ve worked in, people-wise.”

"Now, it’s pretty much like a brand new restaurant. We didn’t get much sleep but we got it done!”

After 16 years in the same location, Cheng decided that the restaurant needed a facelift. So, they hired a contractor and rolled up their sleeves to pitch in, undertaking and finishing a major remodeling effort in record time.

“I was talking to my wife about it and we came up with the makeover idea,” said Cheng. “We had to do everything after hours. It took us about a week to get all of the remodeling done. We re-did the walls, took out the carpet and replaced it with a wooden floor with tiles around the buffet area.  The dining area has a wooden floor. We also installed new counters and new cabinets. So now, it’s pretty much like a brand new restaurant. We didn’t get much sleep but we got it done!”

The surroundings are new, but one thing that remained the same is the quality and attention to detail that Cheng strives for with his menu. And with , customers are certainly liking what they see and taste. 

“I cook everything myself so I try to prepare our foods with a high quality that I would enjoy eating myself,” said Cheng. “I like to share that with my customers.”