携手共进, 小企业撑起费城唐人街的未来!

This is the fourth in a series of "Community Voices" articles developed by New Mainstream Press in partnership with the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, with support from the Independence Public Media Foundation.

Standing on the streets of Philadelphia’s Chinatown, you can see numerous shops adorned with bilingual signs in both Chinese and English. These establishments cater to the everyday needs of the Chinese and Asian communities. In this article of 'Community Voices,' we will engage in conversations with four Chinese small business owners who are making their mark in Philadelphia’s Chinatown. They'll share their stories, offering local perspectives on survival and growth in Chinatown.

Dr. Xu Min is the only woman among those we interviewed in this article. Her intellect, grace, efficiency, and professionalism epitomize the many female entrepreneurs striving for a successful business in Philadelphia Chinatown. When she came to the United States during the wave of immigration, she didn't have a specific plan for her future. In 2014, she took over “Central City Eyecare” located in Philadelphia's Chinatown. Since then, she has been serving the Chinese community in Philadelphia for nearly 10 years.

“I still remember my first visit to Philadelphia's Chinatown, it was in 2005. I felt that Philadelphia's Chinatown was quite extensive, even larger than Washington DC's Chinatown. I was surprised to find Chinese  bookstores and a wide variety of restaurants here in Philadelphia's Chinatown. It felt so familiar and welcoming.” This initial wonderful impression Dr. Min Xu had became one of the most significant reasons that she later decided to settle and establish herself here.

“I've seen changes in Philadelphia's Chinatown, like the recent increase in bubble tea shops and the growing variety of restaurants with different flavors. Unfortunately, I don't have much time to explore.” From Tuesday to Saturday, Dr. Xu practices at the clinic in Chinatown, where 90% of the patients are Chinese.

Dr. Xu is so busy that she spends the whole day in the consultation room without taking a break at lunchtime. “Our patients come from Chinatown, some from the Northeast area, and even from the suburbs of Philadelphia. Many patients feel that if they can't communicate in Chinese, language barrier is always a problem, even with translators or accompanied by their children. Many Chinese patients prefer to travel further because they believe we can explain things more clearly.”

As she assists patients seeking help for eye problems every day, Dr. Xu, naturally gentle and meticulous, has become even more patient, almost Zen-like. “When serving the community, patience is essential. Especially with the elderly, many of them are unaware of their eye conditions or suffer from various anxieties and forgetfulness. For instance, when fitting glasses for older individuals, even after we've completed the fitting, many claim that the frame isn't the one they chose. In such cases, we ask them to take a photo, but often, even after looking at the photo, they insist we changed their glasses. It happens a lot, and all we can do is be patient—patient and patient. I understand these situations, because everyone will be a senior someday.”

"Sometimes, it's a very simple issue they're unaware of, and I solve significant problems with straightforward methods. Sometimes, it might just be needing a pair of glasses. This brings me a lot of satisfaction and happiness." Although being a small business owner inevitably involves dealing with accounts, taxes, staff, and profits, Dr. Xu prefers her role as an ophthalmologist.

"Having been here for a long time, patients are like families. During consultations, we also talk about daily life. Many families bring their children for eye check-ups or to get glasses every year. Over the years, I've watched these children grow up, and I can even remember the types of contact lenses they wear. Chinatown is a big family, and I'm just one part of it."

Looking back on these years in the States, Dr. Xu's expression has become solemn. In comparison to her dedication, she feels she has gained much more. “Over 20 years ago when I left China, it was a time when China was rapidly developing. Someone says, 'You missed the chance to get rich in China.' However, I don't agree with that. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to serve the Chinese community, because I received a higher medical education. Previously, I didn't have the chance to give back to the community. Personally, my personal growth has far exceeded the expectations and imaginations of my youth; I have become a better version of myself.'"

On a sunny afternoon in early winter, a humble-looking elderly man warmly welcomed us to take a seat on the second floor of Sang Kee restaurant in Philadelphia's Chinatown, introducing to us to  the Chinese paintings hanging on the wall that were all created by his wife, Diana. He is the owner of Sang Kee in Philadelphia: Mr. Michael Chow.

Sang Kee's roast duck is famously delicious, and our conversation started from there. 43 years ago, in 1980, Mr. Michael Chow opened the first roast duck restaurant in Philadelphia's Chinatown, naming it “Sang Kee”. Mr. Chow recalls what the restaurant looked like, which today leaves a deep impression due to its size. “At the beginning, it was very small, extremely small, with only 20 chairs. The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an article describing our restaurant as ‘a hole in the wall’. They even mentioned, ‘We won't give the address because this restaurant in Chinatown is too small, and we don't want people going there and not finding a place to sit.’”

Like many early Chinese immigrants to the United States, Michael Chow didn't know what he would do before coming here. “I asked relatives and friends what I could do here. They said I had two job options: first, working in a garment factory, and second, working in a restaurant doing various tasks like serving tables, cooking, or washing dishes. There were jobs available; it depended on what you could do.”

At that time, there were many culinary schools in Hong Kong catering to immigrants, teaching various culinary skills. Michael enrolled to learn how to prepare Western cuisine, pastries, and roast duck. For six months, he worked during the day and had classes at night, dedicating himself to mastering these skills.

After he came to the United States, Michael Chow relied on his keen business insight and decided to open a roast duck shop in Philadelphia's Chinatown. “At that time in Philadelphia, if you wanted to eat roast duck, there was only one option: a truck came down from New York every Saturday, bringing vegetables and beloved Chinese dishes like roast duck, roast pig, and BBQ pork. There weren't many Chinese supermarkets here. To have these dishes, they had to be transported from New York, which was very inconvenient.”

“I was trying to find out how many roast duck and BBQ pork were brought in from New York each week, gauging the basic demand. Since even the ducks made a day before were still being consumed, I believed there would definitely be a market. I thought if we did well, the sales could potentially double.”

So, Michael found a partner who spoke English, then recruited a waiter, and the three of them started Sang Kee. “I calculated that if we reached $100 in sales in a day, I wouldn't lose money. Surprisingly, we hit that target on the very first day."

Over the past 43 years, Sang Kee's roast duck has almost become the entirety of Michael Chow's life. He spends 'eight days a week' by the roasting oven, watching as each glossy, deep-red roast duck comes out, which brings him the utmost joy. Guests who love his roast duck are pleasantly surprised to discover that Sang Kee has not only expanded to a larger storefront next to the original location but also opened branches in University City and the suburbs of Philadelphia. However, despite the changes, the taste of Sang Kee's roast duck has remained consistent. It's still that same flavor.

"China has an old saying: 'Rising tides lift all boats.' The more popular Chinatown is, the better the business can grow." Reflecting on 43 years of Sang Kee, Michael Chow remarked, "When I first arrived in the 1980s, Chinatown had very few people. I was in my twenties, and I knew almost everyone around my age. We would greet each other; it felt like one big family. Later on, the population gradually increased, more Chinese students came, and Chinatown grew larger, so does Sang Kee."

Michael Chow also hopes to see Chinatown continue to improve. How can Philadelphia’s Chinatown become even more popular? Michael Chow has conceived the idea of building a "Panda Park."

"I want to use this vacant space to invite professional designers to create and build a landscape park centered around pandas. Tourists can come and take photos. From Panda Park to the archway of Chinatown, we could design it as “Panda Avenue”, where people could stroll through Chinatown along this route. When they post their photos on social media, their friends would see, and it becomes free advertising for Chinatown."

"In this Panda Park, we plan to design two parking structures with a capacity for 500 cars. This way, it could alleviate the parking issues in Chinatown." As he spoke, he showed us the design sketches of the Panda Park. "Right now, it's just an idea; we need to gather opinions and reach a consensus. Discussions have been started within the Philadelphia Chinatown Business Association, and our next step will involve communicating with the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, to transform it into a proposal for Chinatown."

When talking about the Panda Park, Michael Chow's eyes lit up with excitement. After spending nearly half his life navigating through Philadelphia's Chinatown, he hopes to contribute something to this home belonging to the Chinese community. Just as the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." We also hope that more proposals, including the “Panda Park” project, can materialize, working together to make the future of Philadelphia's Chinatown even better!

From the gate of Philadelphia's Chinatown, heading westward, not far away is “Long Life Chinese Herbs.” For those familiar with the area, following the scent of fragrant Chinese herbs would likely lead them to this store specializing in Chinese medicinal ingredients. Mr. Kieng Sieu Lim, the owner of Long Life Chinese Herbs and now 77 years old, has been eagerly awaiting our arrival.

“Our store opened on March 23, 1997. At that time, there were already many Chinese herbs shops in Chinatown. However, it was my first time opening a store here, which came with some challenges. For instance, initially, we didn't know where to purchase inventory, and we didn't have much savings. I had to go to New York to buy goods, and they were quite expensive because I didn't know where the wholesale companies were located.”

In 1981, Mr. Kieng Sieu Lim and his wife, along with their two children, fled from Cambodia to the United States. Like many newcomers, the Lim family faced tremendous hardship and difficulties. Mr. Lim began by washing dishes and doing odd jobs in restaurants. Later, he started his own Chinese take-out in a rough neighborhood in Philadelphia to make a living. "That area had a lot of drug dealing and homeless people; it was very frightening. We lived in constant fear. Over 13 years, we opened four different stores, but I felt life had no meaning. I still wanted to open a Chinese medicinal herb shop."

When it comes to traditional Chinese medicine and herbs, Kieng Sieu Lim is eager to share. When he was 13 years old, he traveled with his parents from China to Cambodia. His parents ran a medicinal herb shop where many of the medicines were processed in-house. Surrounded by the aroma of Chinese herbs and the traditional Chinese medicine books at home, he grew up immersed in the world of Chinese medicinal herbs, learning a great deal about traditional Chinese medicine.

After wandering in the United States for over a decade, Kieng Sieu Lim decided to return to his roots and opened a traditional Chinese herb medicine store, in Philadelphia's Chinatown. "Most of Long Life Chinese Herbs' customers are Chinese. If a customer brings a prescription, we typically have most of the Chinese herbs they're looking for. If someone comes in for treatment, we use traditional Chinese medicine methods to ‘diagnose’ and then prepare the necessary herbs. Nowadays, many medicines come in the form of concentrated granules, which are convenient to take and have the same efficacy as traditional methods."

Gradually, Long Life Chinese Herbs' reputation spread more and more among Chinese people, attracting individuals who sought Kieng Sieu Lim's expertise in prescribing and preparing traditional Chinese medicine. “I'm pleased that our traditional Chinese herb medicine shop has provided convenience. Firstly, you don't have to wait in line at the hospital. Secondly, the prices are very reasonable.”

“Additionally, many Chinese individuals struggle with understanding English when they visit a doctor, which can be quite challenging. Of course, for more complicated illnesses, herbs might not be effective, so we recommend seeing the doctor. Over the years, whether they are Chinese, Black, White, or even those who might appear homeless, we treat everyone respectfully. For our elderly customers, we often provide discounts.”

Mr. Lim finds particular comfort in being able to impart his knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine to his nephew and second daughter. This not only provides him with assistance in the store but also contributes to the continuation of traditional Chinese medicine overseas.

“My nephew works in the store most of the time. My second daughter is fluent in English, and she explains things to many English-speakers who visit the store. She articulates things very clearly, and people praise our service. She even started an online store specializing in Chinese herbal medicine a long time ago.”

"It's admirable how in America, there are opportunities for personal growth and development. As long as you're willing to strive and work hard, you'll reap rewards." What's impressive is that Mr. Lim has tirelessly written his story into a book, sharing it with readers. Over the years, he's also maintained a routine of swimming and biking, ensuring a healthy body. "I'm content with my life now. I plan to retire in another year or two. At that point, my nephew and second daughter will take over. My wife and I can then enjoy our retirement.”

From China to Cambodia and then to the United States, Mr. Lim endured hardships before finding a sense of home in Philadelphia's Chinatown. Long Life Chinese Herbs has become a sanctuary for his soul—a place where everything has fallen into the best arrangement possible.

If you've visited Ebisu, a Japanese goods store in Philadelphia's Chinatown, you'll undoubtedly be captivated by the array of charming items: from toys to cosmetics, snacks to miscellaneous goods, this shop feels like a quick trip to Shibuya, Tokyo. You might encounter a busy figure bustling about, checking the shelves while warmly greeting customers—this is Kenny Poon, the owner of this delightful store.

"I'm from Fuzhou, and I moved to Hong Kong when I was very young. I came to the United States when I was 13 and settled in Philadelphia at 15." After relocating to Philadelphia, most of Kenny's time has revolved around Chinatown. Apart from this Japanese goods store, his business portfolio includes several restaurants and bubble tea shops, with most of his ventures operating within Chinatown. His entrepreneurial journey began over 20 years ago, starting right here in Chinatown.

Back in 2000, mobile phones were far from being as ubiquitous as they are today. Kenny noticed that compared to New York, Philadelphia had a much more limited selection of phones. "The phones available in Philadelphia were quite different from those in New York City. New York City had a lot of new models of cellphone, but Philadelphia didn't." Kenny seized this business opportunity and opened a mobile phone store in Philadelphia's Chinatown, earning his first bucket of gold.

"Back then, GSM network phones had just come out, and my shop was the only one in Chinatown selling these kinds of phones. We even imported the latest phones from Europe. For example, the first Nokia phone was available in my store, and many people hadn't seen it before. So, I feel fortunate because I started early and caught a good opportunity. Sometimes, you may want to do something, but timing is also crucial in making it happen."

In 2004, when the mobile phone business wasn't doing so well, Kenny decided to venture into real estate and became a real estate agent. “At that time, I had earned some money, but I didn't find much meaning in it until I opened my first restaurant. That's when I found something that not only made money but was something I enjoyed doing as well.”

In 2008, Kenny fulfilled his dream and opened his first restaurant, BonChon. “It was an Asian fusion restaurant, serving Chinese, Japanese, some Korean, and even some Filipino dishes. Actually, I always wanted to have my own restaurant. The dishes served there are simply what I find delicious. In 2012, Kenny also opened the first bubble tea shop in Philadelphia's Chinatown called Tea-Do.

Kenny's shops differ from many other Chinese businesses in that they're not exclusively targeting Chinese or Asian customers. They're always open to everyone. "When I do market analysis, I consider all these aspects. Because I firmly believe that Chinese businesses shouldn't only focus on the Chinese community, as this will limit their potential market. The development of Chinatown should embrace diversity and cater to everyone."

Kenny believes that learning to do business with non-Chinese customers is beneficial, especially in dealing with the issue of the 76ers building a new arena near Chinatown. "If the 76ers indeed build a new arena here, some major American companies will follow the crowd to grab market share. If Chinatown's small Chinese businesses don't know how to do business with 'outsiders,' existing small businesses will be significantly affected, possibly even disappearing slowly. I think everyone should be prepared early and not wait for all of this to happen before taking action."

In the years of working hard in Chinatown, figuring out how to conduct business for "locals" has always been Kenny's concern. For instance, he sees Philadelphia's annual "Restaurant Week" as a great idea worth emulating. “During this event, restaurants of various cuisines unite to offer discounts and meal packages, attracting a lot of attention. I think a similar event could be organized in Chinatown, perhaps offering discounted packages comprising cocktails, appetizers, and main courses.” His point is that sometimes it's important for everyone to do something together.

Kenny, who has gained some reputation in the Chinese business owners’ community, harbors a significant dream: to establish a Chinese Business School that not only teaches Chinese but also imparts entrepreneurship skills to young individuals, enabling them to become their own bosses.

"I never attended college or studied business, and that's something I regret, but my years in business have taught me a lot. I know some young people who only seek employment, but if they acquire the right knowledge, they can venture into entrepreneurship at a young age. Even if they fail, they have a chance to start again. I want to assist young individuals in establishing more Chinese-owned businesses, encouraging them to bravely pursue their dreams, just like I did."

According to 2021 statistics, 98% of businesses in Philadelphia are small enterprises (defined as having fewer than 50 employees), generating 54% of the city's job opportunities. With over 20,000 small businesses, they form a vital backbone of the city. As per the 2022 U.S. Census, 11% of these small businesses in Philadelphia are owned by Asians (with a significant portion being of Chinese descent), serving as crucial engines propelling the city's economic growth.

In these interviews, we witnessed the ups and downs experienced by Chinese entrepreneurs, their intertwined existence and growth with Chinatown, and their thoughts and suggestions for the future development of this neighborhood. Through their stories, we see a larger landscape of Chinese business. We eagerly anticipate the collaboration and collective effort of the rooted Chinese businesses in Chinatown to forge a brighter and better future together!