The Southern Palace Chinese Restaurant has been operating on South Main Street only since November, but has been a Statesboro family business, serving families of customers, for more than 17 years. J.J. Fang and his mother, Huifen Han, are the owners. They opened the original Southern Palace in October 1997 in Gentilly Square shopping center, which was then home to a busy Winn Dixie supermarket and other retailers.