Councilors revoke 'Good Friends' Chinese restaurant's license

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Good Friends Chinese and Seafood Restaurant (Source: WBRC video)

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - Birmingham city councilors voted unanimously on Tuesday to revoke the business license for the Good Friends Chinese and Seafood Restaurant in West End.

The restaurant has been under scrutiny ever since the owner, Chun Ching, was arrested for shooting at a customer in February. The customer reportedly complained about finding a cockroach in her eggroll, and says Ching shot at her. The customer was not injured.

Birmingham police say there have been a total of 25 incidents, includuing the shooting, at the restaurant. Health reports from 2012 and 2013 cited the restaurant for having dead roaches near equipment and a roach in the ice machine.

The victim in the February shooting and residents attended Tuesday's council meeting.

The restaurant voluntarily closed its doors in February in the wake of community protests and a boycott.

Attorneys for the restaurant said they plan to appeal the decision.

"They've been there 11 years, it's hard, they've seen all the other businesses in the area close being victims of crimes and robberies and other things....But they take a lot of pride in what they do," Carl Chamblee, Jr. said.