Dim Sum House owners Jane Guo and Jackson Fu announce the grand opening of Xi West Weddings and Private Events at 3939 Chestnut Street, 1st Floor. The mother-son duo are thrilled to debut the city's new Asian and female-owned wedding and special events venue and catering facility where they can now host wedding receptions, micro-weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, baby showers, large group dining, private parties, corporate events and food festivals for up to 350 people. The stunning 6,000 square foot space cost over one million dollars for renovations and took four years to complete, after a two year delay during the pandemic. For event planners and couples, the space brings together modern industrial chic design, an exciting cocktail program and robust coffee service with traditional Chinese menus that range from dim sum offerings to signature rice, noodle dishes and seafood dishes. For higher end weddings seeking something extra special, the menu can include delicacies like Norwegian King Crab three ways. The space has a sleek and modern bar, lounge and cocktail space in the front on Chestnut Street on ground level, with a ballroom and event space through the larger doors, followed by a bridal room and oversized bathrooms. The space can seat up to 225 seated and 350 standing. For more information, to schedule a tour or to speak to an event coordinator, visit xiwestevents.com, contact xi.west.events@gmail.com or call 215-921-5377. Follow XI West on social media @xiwestevents.

"Dim Sum House by Jane G's is thrilled to introduce our brand new wedding and event space XI West in University City," said Fu. "We first opened our flagship restaurant Dim Sum House in University City in 2017. We have multiple spaces for large group dining, but we were getting more and more requests to host larger events and larger groups. We had to turn down many of them that exceeded capacity upstairs. We then looked at the marketplace and created a plan to open the city's newest Asian owned wedding venue and event space. The first floor had remained vacant since we moved in, so we approached the landlord to active the space. We signed in 2018 and work began in late 2019, and was immediately shut down when the pandemic began. It has been a trying few years but the wait was well worth it. We can't wait to welcome our first official guests and be part of the most important day in a couple's lives. We asked ourselves 'what would we want to see in a new venue' and what type of decor, menus and amenities, and we created our dream space. We can't wait to see it in use!"

He added, "For modern and young couples seeking something unique, affordable and experiential, we have the perfect space and menu for a dim sum themed wedding. For those looking for something more traditional, we bring together a modern and gorgeous space together with authentic Chinese banquet options. For young Asian couples and their parents, we offer the best of both worlds with modern vibes and an Instagram/TikTok worthy backdrop, with authentic cuisine and event coordinators that are versed in Chinese tradition. For those looking for something truly over the top, we can work with couples and event planners on experience that include the Lion Dance, firecrackers, live entertainment and much more."

XI West Weddings and Private Events is now open and features 6,000 square feet of modern loft chic industrial designed space that is perfect for weddings, bridal showers, rehearsals dinners, family reunions, birthdays, celebrations, corporate events, holiday parties, luncheons, food festivals and much more. The versatile and stunning space was designed by Architect Fred Vidi Design with interior design by Janice Mok from Mok Design Inc. Design elements create a vibe with raw exposed wood, custom laser engraved brass paneling, orb chandeliers, customizable LED lighting, warm tones, granite stone, chick tilework and other unique elements. XI is “west” in Chinese. The name XI West is Fu and Guo's iteration of Eastern culture meeting Western culture.

Inside, guests will enter to find a sleek stylish 14 foot bar, lounge and cocktail reception space, that can host 100 people. Through the bar and lounge, the dining room can seat up to 225 people for banquet style seating and hold up to 350 people in total for a standing event. Other seating combinations are available to accommodate workshops, conferences and theater style events. For events of all kinds, the space can be subdivided to accommodate multiple uses and different party sizes. Beyond the ballroom and dining space, guests will find a private 500 square feet bridal suite with a private bathroom and ample room for brides and the bridal party for hair, make-up, changing and anything else they may need. Outside, look for event and dining space to be added down the road later this year or in 2023.

XI West will have a preferred vendor list that includes regular partners of the venue and hospitality company. Outside vendors for flowers, cake, photography, entertainment and other needs are allowed for events with advance permission. The growing list of preferred vendors includes Love Me Do Photography, DJ Ricky Lee, Saints Light and Sounds Entertainment and Philadelphia Suns.

For cuisine and overall vision, XI West and Dim Sum House puts the focus and attention on service and quality of food. The goal is to provide the best experience for all guests. The menu specializes in Authentic Chinese cuisine, as well as two very different types of Dim Sum, Shanghai and Cantonese style. From soup dumplings to pastries to seafood dumplings the extensive menu and offerings will be a great experience for any type of party. XI West promotes a family sharing style of dining that allows everyone to try a variety of different flavors and dishes throughout their meal. Event menus are flexible and customizable, with the recommended banquet offerings being based on family sharing style of dining. This allows all guests to experience a traditional Chinese style of dining. As opposed to each guest getting an individual entrée, XI West encourages sharing of multiple dishes between all the guests. Tables are seated between up to10 guests. For events with multiple tables, each table will be served the selected prefix menu. We will make special accommodations for guests with dietary restrictions. XI West and Dim Sum House offer and can create menus that feature vegan, vegetarian and gluten free dishes.

Sample and popular dishes include: Mustard Green & Flounder Soup, Beef Lover’s Quarrel, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, Shrimp Chive Dumplings, Shrimp Cheung Fun, Steamed Striped Bass, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Garlic Snow Pea Leaves, Peking Duck, Sizzling Beef Short Rib and House Lo Mein.

XI West will offer some unique dishes and showcase their experience with seafood, with dishes that include Shark Fin Soup, Jellyfish Appetizer Combination, Coral Clam with Yellow Chives, Honey Walnut Jumbo Prawns and Live King Crab Three-Ways with Steamed Minced Garlic Sauce King Crab Rose (Body), Garlic Honey Tempura King Crab Legs and Traditional Crab Meat & Umami Fried Rice.

For the beverage program, XI West will offer an expansive collection of spirits, beers and wines, plus signature cocktails and coffee-inspired cocktail program with La Colombe. While some event venues are more traditional in cocktail offerings, Fu and Guo understand the current cocktail culture that is especially important and popular to modern and younger couples. Therefore, while the standards will be offered, event planners and couples have access to signature cocktails from Dim Sum House, plus exclusive cocktails can also be designed for any event.

For audio and visual set-up, look for floor to ceiling LED media wall for background decor, video of the happy couple, corporate logos, power point presentations and more. The venue also offers a state-of-the-art sound system, with microphones.

For wedding related events, XI West can host rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, wedding receptions, and micro-weddings where the space can be flipped from ceremony to reception.

The new space will also host potential food festivals with a potential dumpling fest in discussions that would bring together Dim Sum House and Dim Sum Garden. Stay tuned!

XI West has started to book events already, and is proud to announce it will be the venue for the Philadelphia Public Relations Society Gold Medal Award Luncheon honoring Sheinelle Jones of NBC's Today Show.

"We are excited to host the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) Annual Gold Medal Award Luncheon on May 25 at the new XI West event space at 3939 Chestnut St.," said PPRA President Michelle Sonsino. "The upbeat and stylish aesthetic reflects the personality of our incredible honoree, Sheinelle Jones of NBC's Today show, and the flavorful menu will no doubt impress our guests. We are grateful to be one of the first groups to host an event at XI West and share the venue with professionals from all over the region. Event tickets will go live on April 8 at ppra.net. Join us!"

For inquiries and tours for XI West, contact Veasna Houn - General Manager at 267-257-2625 and xi.west.events@gmail.com. Houn will serve as the event coordinator and oversee the team to take care of every detail for XI West experiences and events.

BACKGROUND

This is a project that is four years in the making and was great impacted by the pandemic. The Dim Sum House Family experienced so much during the pandemic - from looting and vandalism at their brand new Rittenhouse location during early pandemic to xenophobia - to see the major loose of the large group business to seeing college related business in UC go down to next to nothing- this is a major comeback and the largest expansion ever for the Dim Sum House family. Jane is also a leading female and Asian pioneer in the restaurant industry in Philadelphia, with ties to restaurants in the city and in the Western Suburbs that go back over the decades with her sprawling restaurants in the suburbs to what will now become THREE Dim Sum House's in Philadelphia (once the new one opens), XI West and other things in the works!

WHAT'S NEXT

This month has been an exciting whirlwind for Fu, Guo and the Dim Sum House family. Last week, news broke that Dim Sum House by Jane G's is coming to Fishtown/ Northern Liberties at Liberty Square. That new location will feature a massive outdoor dim sum and cocktail garden, and it will be the largest Dim Sum House location to date.

For XI West, look for additional news later this month or later in spring, as the space will also debut a new morning and lunch cafe and coffee shop when it is not in use as an event venue.