When dynamic restauranteur, Vinny Lam, introduced the Blu Wasabi restaurant to Clarks Summit, Penn., in September 2014, he described it as “East meets West in a feel good atmosphere filled with live chill vibe” music”—essentially a place to relax, be entertained and discover Asian delicacies.

Trained in the art of Japanese cuisine, Lam has since opened four restaurants throughout the area dedicated to blending Asian fine dining with relaxed, comfortable experiences he describes as the perfect place to end your day. “We not only specialize in sumptuous Asian cuisine, but in environments that help our guests unwind,” says Lam. “Great food and atmosphere is what we’re all about,” he said. “The entire design motif was painstakingly selected to integrate a great Japanese menu with Western entertainment.”

He also found after 20 years in the business that success depends on direct involvement. “I’m here almost every night and involved in almost all decisions.  I handpicked all of the décor and the entire design motif,” he said. “I only choose quality products that reflect the restaurant’s upbeat ambiance.”

On any given evening Blu Wasabi patrons can be seen dining on dishes ranging from lobster shrimp sake bisque and Wasabi pea crusted Chilean seabass to pan roasted New Zealand rack of lamb with Yakisoba noodles and Asian mushrooms. This is in an ultra-modern setting highlighted by yellow and blue mood lighting and often live eight to 10 piece bands playing 60s, 70s and 80s music.

Lam’s meticulous attention to the finest details is even reflected in Blu Wasabi’s restrooms, where he personally specified Hiny Hiders bathroom partitions from Scranton Products. He was particularly impressed with the full-length design and long-term durability. He went with the clean, modern feel of Titanium and Concrete colors.

“It’s not just about being trendy,” offers Lam. “Blu Wasabi is about having fun in an open environment that invites mingling.  Privacy is very important to this concept. That’s why I liked the Hiny Hiders--they blended so nicely with our custom bathroom fixtures, while stretching all the way to the floor. You can’t even see the person’s legs in the stall. It was the perfect choice for our look and feel.”

A provider of interior partitions for the past 25 years, Scranton Products offers an assortment of HDPE products in variety of colors and textures. In addition, the company’s Hiny Hiders partitions are designed to never need painting. Unlike metal partitions which are subject to rust, Hiny Hiders offer superior resistance to dents, scratches, graffiti, corrosion, mildew and moisture. Another benefit is that they are very easy to clean and naturally resistant to bacteria and carry a 25-year warranty.

In addition, if cleaned and maintained properly, HDPE paritions reduce costs in the long run. Mild stains and general soiling are often removed with a mild cleaner and water. Tougher stains are normally counteracted with solutions containing 2⁄3 cup of trisodium phosphate, 1⁄2 cup of household detergent and a gallon of water. If those solutions are not viable, a non-abrasive industrial-strength cleaner will do the job without damaging the surface of the bathroom partition.

Since plastic is a solid composite, it also maintains a property of impermeability that does not allow them to retain and/or absorb water. Because of this characteristic, the partitions will resist water damage and are rust proof. This makes the stalls ideal for power-washing and hose-down cleaning.  

“I’ve owned restaurants for 20 years and have a good sense of what works,” concludes Lam. “Hiny Hiders was the ideal choice for our restaurant. With so much going on, this is something you don’t even want to think about. We never waste a spare moment on maintaining these partitions. They look great, clean easy and wear well—they are the perfect accessory to our establishment.”