Potts Point restaurateur in heated exchange with council over footpath plants
Saturday night at Potts Point's popular Vietnamese eatery, Lady Chu, took an unexpected turn when City of Sydney Council rangers arrived, sparking a fiery confrontation with owner, Nahji Chu.
Chu is a seasoned figure in the hospitality industry and is celebrated for her candid online responses and unconventional fortune cookies. She has been credited with revitalising a once-quiet section of Roslyn Street since opening her establishment during the COVID-19 pandemic, a strip now affectionately dubbed "Rue de Chu" by locals.
However, this success appears to have drawn the attention of complaining neighbours and the local council. During their unannounced weekend visit, the rangers informed Chu that they were addressing a serious matter: plants belonging to her restaurant were allegedly obstructing the public footpath.
This prompted an outburst from Chu, who reportedly filmed an expletive-laden video directed at the council officers. In the footage, she can be heard expressing her frustration, stating, "I’m trying to activate a dead city and you’re trying to f---ing shut it down," and "I’m not a f---ing naughty schoolkids, so don’t speak to me like that." A subsequent video reportedly included the statement, "I’m paying f---ing taxes and I’m paying your wages!"
The incident has ignited debate about the balance between maintaining public access and supporting thriving local businesses.
When contacted for comment, a City of Sydney Council spokesperson stated that the visit followed ongoing complaints regarding "additional furniture, umbrellas and planters beyond the business’ approved outdoor trading area" which had caused pedestrian access issues. "City staff respectfully advised which items would need to be moved," the spokesperson added, commending their team for their calm and professional conduct and requesting respectful community interactions with council staff.
Meanwhile, Ms. Chu expressed her unwavering stance against what she perceives as anonymous complaints stifling the city's vibrancy.
"I escaped communist South-east Asia in 1975 for freedom, only to come to a worse regime," the Laos-born restaurateur declared. "If I have to go to jail to change this stupid law, I will."
Jonathan Jackson, 20th May 2025
