Saipan Correspondent
GARAPAN, Saipan — Another business has closed shop on Saipan. This time it’s Filipino Mexican fusion restaurant La Mesa Kusina that’s biting the dust.
Originally opened in Chalan Kanoa in May 2022 before relocating to Garapan in April 2024, La Mesa Kusina had its last day of operations March 31.
Clint Albert, operations manager; said the restaurant is sad to be shuttering its doors and blamed the economy for La Mesa Kusina ceasing operations.
“Our reason isn't very different from every other business that has either closed down already or is struggling right now to keep afloat. With the bad shape of our economy, it's hard to even keep the business make enough revenue to be self-sufficient to operate,” he said.
Albert said more than losing La Mesa Kusina, his heart also bleeds for the restaurant’s wonderful and hardworking staff.
“We've already had a good meeting with our team discussing what they would want to do for the next chapter of their careers and offered to hire them on other businesses that we run, if it's still an option that they would like to do.”
The closure of La Mesa Kusina follows the exit of E-Land Group’s NC Picks and the shuttering of Garapan Restaurant in March.
NC Picks Saipan, which was the warehouse-style store’s first branch outside of Asia, closed March 9.
Philip Choi, strategic and planning officer for E-Land’s Kensington Hotel Saipan; said the reason for the closure is the group is currently developing its business plan. “This is one of [the] steps for something new.”
Choi said the group has prioritized supporting employees throughout the transition and did it’s best to provide opportunities for them to continue working within the E-Land Group.
“Employees were given the chance to apply for positions at Kensington Hotel, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, and Coral Ocean Resort and several have successfully transitioned and are now actively contributing,” he said.
NC Picks conducted a phased clearance sale from February, which ensured that most of its inventory was gradually sold and as a result, very little stock remains at this point, he said.
Choi said despite NC Picks closing, E-Land’s focus remains on strengthening and enhancing the operations of its hotels and the Ohas Café & Boulangerie.
“We recognize our responsibility to the local community and are committed to contributing positively through strong business operations and high-quality service.”
The Garapan Restaurant Café & Grill cooked its last meal March 14 — another casualty of the NMI’s depressed economy.
“As the final lights dim here at @garapanrestaurant670 our hearts are overflowing with memories. …We've watched families grow, friendships blossom, and milestones marked within these very walls. And for that, we are eternally grateful. Though our doors may close for now, the warmth of those moments will forever linger in our hearts,” Garapan Restaurant said in its social media post.
The NMI Department of Labor said a total of 27 businesses reported their closing to the agency.
“There are businesses that closed and didn't inform us and that was one of the reasons why we made the reduction-in-force form online to be more accessible. So, any business that is planning a reduction in force or planning a closure can easily upload their information online to give us that information in advance,” she said during the Society of Human Resources Management’s March general membership meeting on March 18 at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.
Staffler said Labor wants to help staff who have lost their jobs any way they can.
“We did the outreach when the Hyatt [Regency Saipan] closed, where we went to the Hyatt and provided options for those workers to help them transition. Some people took advantage of it, some people went their own way. But at least we were there to try and provide that support. We are doing the same thing with [T Galleria] closing,” she said at the meeting. mbj