The owners said they hoped for a ‘better environment for local businesses to grow’
Li Anderson and Elaine Wan took over the ‘Red Wagon’ in Sutton Coldfield’s Parade, selling jacket potatoes, sandwiches and drinks with a Hong Kong twist at their ‘Hooman’ takeaway – but they’ve now closed for good
A food truck in Sutton Coldfield town centre has closed for good with a swipe at the town’s trading conditions.
Two entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Li Anderson and Elaine Wan, opened the ‘Hooman’ takeaway, named after Elaine’s Japanese Akita dog, in a landmark red food truck in Sutton’s Parade in May 2023.
They took over the ‘Red Wagon’ from Martin Connolly, who had run it for more than 309 years.
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The pair sold jacket potatoes and sandwiches with a Far Eastern twist.
It opened on the day of the King’s Coronation – May 6 – and sold Hong Kong-style sandwiches, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, with hot pork and chicken and jacket spuds with stringy cheese.
The truck also sold another Far East favourite, bubble tea, as well as cakes.
The Red Wagon – which has been run by business duo Li Anderson and Elaine Wan from Hong Kong for the past three years and four months has now closed for good
Mr Anderson moved to the UK in August 2022, having previously worked for the former UK colony’s anti-corruption department.
The food truck’s closure was announced on Facebook page – with a hint at the issues facing Sutton Coldfield retail outlets.
It is the latest to move out of the town centre in recent months – with I Am Yogi leaving in August ( now behind the High Street ) and Mini Me, which closed for good.
Aldi ’s Parade store is shutting to move to a new, bigger shop nearby in Brassington Avenue.
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The message posted on Hooman’s business page said: “Thank you Sutton Coldfield. It’s time to say goodbye.
“We first opened our doors in May 2023. A new place, a new beginning, a new challenge.
“Since then Sutton Coldfield has been so much more than just a place where we ran a business.
“We’ve met so many wonderful people, made great memories and felt your amazing support every step of the way.
“Today, we’re closing this chapter and moving on.”
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It continued: “We leave with a heart full of gratitude and our very best wishes for the Sutton Coldfield community.
“We truly hope, that in the future there will be a better environment for local businesses to grow, thrive and have another go.
“Thank you to everyone who supported us, visited us, recommended us, shared our posts or simply stopped by for a chat. You meant the world to us. Not goodbye forever, just goodbye for now.”
