Under the Rug: Wayne Wang, Operations Manager, The Rug

Wayne Wang has been overseeing The Rug since the beginning and knows the organic restaurant scene inside and out. It’s only a fledging market in Beijing, but The Rug has been one of the forerunners in the movement. Read on for Wayne’s insights on the city’s changing attitudes about eating out and where to buy organic.

Where does the inspiration for The Rug’s interior design come from? 
The inspiration for The Rug Chaoyang Park was to create a breezy airy area where people could relax while dining out. The whole concept was around “home” or a family getaway cottage with a nice front patio. Since it was our first shop, we needed a space friendly enough that strangers would not hesitate to come in to try. On the other hand, we gave The Rug Sanlitun much more of an “uptown” theme so that the minute you walk in, you would forget you are in the center of China. Not to mention, it provides much more of a modern, chic environment that blends in with the Sanlitun area.

Since opening the original location of The Rug several years ago, what have you learned about trying to serve organic, local food in Beijing?
At first it was tough to earn trust from both ends (organic produce providers and customers), but after three years of not giving up, I think we have learned that the trend of eating out has changed. People are starting to think twice before they pick a restaurant. They now want good food, good value, and also to do a good thing for the earth.

What have been the biggest hurdles that you’ve had to jump? How did you do that?
Team building is the hardest task we have encountered. We realize that we have to help the team understand why we want to focus on providing organic healthy eating and what the company core values mean to society and should mean to them. We start with weekly sharing and training sessions for our employees. We also invite outside speakers to expand their knowledge. Only when our team grows can we can grow.

What advice would you give to people interested in sourcing local, organic produce in Beijing?
Nowadays it is not that difficult to purchase organic products in Beijing. The Beijing Organic Farmers’ Market, where you can buy fresh goods from farmers directly, hosts regular gatherings around town each week. Lohas supermarket is another option.

Swing by the original homey Rug or the new stylish location for a taste of their newly launched summer menu.

Photo: Ken