City licensing commission approves transfer of Sawa Asian Cuisine liquor license to K Wong LLC

The City of Gardner Licensing Commission voted to approve the transfer of the liquor license for Sawa Asian Cuisine and Lounge from DK Brothers, Inc. to K Wong LLC on April 8, 2025.

Trishon Foote, representing K Wong LLC, told the commission the transfer follows the restaurant’s move to West Broadway and an internal corporate change that will dissolve DK Brothers as an entity and consolidate assets under K Wong LLC. "The intent was the intent there is to transfer those to the new entity K Wong LLC," Foote said, describing the change as an intra-family transaction with no meaningful exchange of money.

The commission discussed the substitution of license holders: Kenny Wong will be listed as the manager and license manager for K Wong LLC, and Evelyn Wong will be a manager and member of the LLC. The transfer also reflects the departure of David Wong from the prior corporate entity.

The commission chair called for a motion to approve the transfer; the motion was seconded and recorded as carried. The commission did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript.

The application materials provided to the commission included corporate documents and signatures for the existing license; Foote said the existing signatures were included and that the transaction is effectively a change in corporate ownership and management rather than a sale.

The commission did not identify additional permit conditions or outstanding concerns during the discussion. The transfer will proceed through the state alcohol authority processes as required by statute and state commission rules.

Less urgent business at the meeting included seasonal renewals and other licensing items that the commission handled later in the session.