Presented by Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander

MAY 3, 2021 www.sdbj.com 15

CELEBRATING ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER ENTREPRENEURS

ay is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We are so pleased to be collaborating with the Asian Business Association San Diego to share stories of Asian and Pacific Islander businesses in San Diego County. These businesses have Ma rich heritage and have significantly shaped the history of our region and nation. For the entire month of May, the San Diego Business Journal is dedicating a special section in each issue to share and tell their inspiring stories. Business owners will also be recognized on Thursday May 20th, 2021. The San Diego Business Journal and the Asian Business Association San Diego will present the 2021 Asian Pacific Islander Businesses of the Year Awards, as well as a panel discussion on celebrating, uniting, and creating change in the San Diego region. We hope these stories and virtual event will not only inform but build an increasing awareness of Asian Pacific Islander Business community.

Barb Chodos Jason Paguio President and Publisher President & CEO San Diego Business Journal Asian Business Association San Diego

Cross Street Chicken and Beer �� P. 16 Printivity �� P. 16 Social Artistry �� P. 17 Law Offices of Peter D. Chu �� P. 17 Design Code Build �� P. 18 Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon �� P. 18

PRESENTED BY 16 Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Entrepreneurs MAY 3, 2021

Korean Flavors Meet Southern Cooking RESTAURANTS: Cross Street Chicken and Beer Meshes Cultures

By MARIEL CONCEPCION by marinating over- night our fresh nev- It was during a trip to Seoul, Korea, in er frozen chicken... the early 2010s that Tommy Nguyen and Our technique to his wife Grace Chi became inspired to in- double fry our troduce a Korean fried chicken food con- chicken to create cept to San Diego. the perfect crispy But in order to set themselves apart batter pays homage from the local competition, especially once to traditional Ko- settling on a 2,000 square foot space in the rean fried chicken. Asian food enclave of Kearny Mesa, the Wilson To Our inspiration for two knew they had to get innovative with Partner flavors incorporates their offerings. Cross Street Chicken the east and west and Beer Along with business partner Wilson To, cultures to build Nguyen and Chi decided to fuse Korean our multiple flavor offerings.” fried chicken with the commonly embraced comfort of Southern food culture, an ap- New Locations proach never before taken in San Diego’s Moving forward, Nguyen hopes to ex- gastronomic scene, said Nguyen. Lastly, in- pand the Cross Street Chicken and Beer spired by the craft beer industry of San Di- footprint and, hopefully, down the line, en- ego, the final concept iteration included add- ter new markets. ing a hefty selection of brew on tap to pair For now, a new location at the Del Mar with the tasty food. Highlands Town Center, is scheduled to In 2017, Cross Photo Courtesy of Cross Street Chicken and Beer open early 2022, said Nguyen, followed Street Chicken and Cross Street Chicken and Beer, located in Kearny Mesa and founded in 2017, expects to double by a fourth eatery in downtown’s Horton Beer, a fusion be- its revenue by 2022. Plaza. The latter is set to launch toward tween Korean fla- the end of next year, he said. vors and classic Fried Chicken Lover sales at the beginning of COVID-19, Cross A fifth Cross Street Chicken and Beer, Southern cook- “I’m a huge fried chicken lover so af- Street Chicken and Beer has been on a near- to be situated in Petco Park, is currently ing, was birthed. It ter our trip to Seoul we wanted to bring ly-constant upward climb, says Nguyen. By in discussions. n offers 20 beers on some concepts we loved from there back the end of last summer, the company had tap, according to to SD,” said Nguyen, 32, who received his reached pre-pandemic sales numbers, thanks Cross Street Nguyen, and over degree in management information systems in large part to the addition of curbside pick- 10 chicken flavors Tommy Nguyen from San Diego State University. “My wife’s up and third-party delivery services. These Chicken and Beer Owner and options, includ- Cross Street Chicken family owns 10-11 restaurants on Con- days, revenue is up almost 15% from 2019, FOUNDED: 2017 ing the uber-popu- and Beer voy Street (in Kearny Mesa) and her mom said Nguyen, even with the addition of na- OWNER: Tommy Nguyen, Grace Chi, Wilson To lar Hot Chick Sand- was one of the first to own a food place on tional Korean fried chicken food chain Bon- HEADQUARTERS: Convoy wich and the top-selling Seoul Spicy wings. the strip, Friend’s House, maybe 15 years chon Chicken to Kearny Mesa in 2018. BUSINESS: chicken and beer food place with two Today, the company, with a second, 300 ago. So, we knew we wanted to follow in For To, the success of Cross Street locations. square foot location in Carlsbad’s Wind- her family’s footsteps. My wife and Wilson Chicken and Beer is a result of the culture REVENUE: over $2M, projected to double revenue mill Food Hall that opened late 2019, perfected all the recipes and I handle the that Nguyen and the team have built. in 2022 garners over $2 million in revenue and finances and the marketing part of the busi- “We’re so proud of what we’ve built to- LOCAL EMPLOYEES: roughly 45 has roughly 45 employees and counting. ness. We did a grand opening in December gether as a team, creating a safe and warm WEBSITE: www.crosstreetcnb.com Thanks to a planned expansion next year, of 2017 and the support from the commu- environment for both our team to work and NOTABLE: partner Wilson To was previously GM the company, self funded by the husband- nity was just insane. Now we are looking guests to enjoy a great glass of beer and, of from Crab Hut Seafood Restaurant. and-wife duo, is projected to double its at expanding nationwide.” course, some fried chicken,’ he said. “For CONTACT: (858) 430-6001 revenue by 2022, according to Nguyen. Other than experiencing a 40% drop in us, it all begins with ingredients, starting

Printing Co. Exceeds Customers Expectations MARKETING: Firm Has Served Over 45,000 Customers Worldwide

By FRED GRIER to postcard printing, among other custom of the fastest turnaround times in the coun- company has about 60 staffers in total. business solutions. try. Since we’ve opened our doors we have Chou said he plans to continue grow- San Diego-based Printivity, an online Orders can be delivered anywhere in the served over 45,000 customers worldwide.” ing and building its team in San Diego. printing company continues to find suc- U.S. within 24 hours, and 95 percent of its “San Diego is one of the best places in cess after more than a decade in the busi- orders are shipped all across the country. Building in San Diego the United States to start a business because ness. Founded in 2010, Printivity was If a delivery is late or the customer doesn’t Since inception, the company has been of our communities and culture. San Di- started by founder and CEO Lawrence like the finished product, there’s awarded numerous accolades egans are open-minded and willing to try Chou and was built from the ground up. no charge. including being named 17th new things, which really helps if you’ve got Today, Printivity has grown into a mul- Printivity dedicated itself to fastest growing company in a new idea or a new way of doing things,” timillion dollar company. A big part of the providing the best experience for San Diego and made the cov- said Chou. “We came into the printing in- firm’s success is due to its fast turnaround their customers. Not only were eted Inc. 5000 list of the fastest dustry knowing that we wanted to do things times and easy ordering, said Chou. they known for price matching growing U.S. private compa- differently and do things better. And San “Printivity started after I went to the quotes offered up by other com- nies three times in a row. Diego has welcomed us with open arms.” n local print shop and had the worst experi- petitors, but they also stood be- Chou started Printivity with ence ever — I didn’t understand the termi- hind their satisfaction guaran- less than $500 and setting up nology, the technical stuff, or when the or- tee of “We’ll fix it, replace it, or shop in his parent’s garage. To- Printivity der was going to be complete,” said Law- refund it.” day, the company has two San rence Chou, founder and CEO of Printiv- Printivity has an average Lawrence Chou Diego facilities and a third lo- ity. “Knowing we could provide a much 5-star rating on platforms like Founder and CEO cation in New Jersey. FOUNDED: 200 better experience. We started printing in Yelp with more than 10,000 re- Printivity It offers free health insur- CEO: Lawrence Chou San Diego and before we knew it, we be- views. ance, paid time off, volun- HEADQUARTERS: Mira Mesa gan serving customers across the country.” “We have the nation’s highest satisfac- teer hours, and free college offered to BUSINESS: Sells marketing products tion rating of any printing company in the all employees. In addition, all employees EMPLOYEES: 60 Helping Small Businesses United States our size or larger. We also has are encouraged to volunteer at least 20 WEBSITE: www.printivity.com Helping small business owners, it sells a 5-star average on Yelp, Facebook, and Goo- hours for a cause that they are passionate NOTABLE: Chou started Printivity in his parent’s wide range of marketing products includ- gle reviews have us at a 5-star average, which about, said Chou, noting that over 90% garage and with less than $500. ing booklet printing to magazine printing is unheard of,” said Chou. “We have some of employees hit that goal each year. The CONTACT: [email protected] MAY 3, 2021 Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Entrepreneurs 17

Building Bridges Through Culture EVENTS: Social Artistry Creates Community and Connections Even During the Pandemic

By NATALLIE ROCHA their own talents and skills and things that they’re amazing at, but the way that we actual- While the pandemic may have shuttered ly make like...a beautiful picture together is by large gatherings and celebrations, it didn’t connecting more and more of those pieces.” stop Lauren Balcita Garces from starting her Garces is also well connected in the San own event production company in 2020. Diego community as president of the Nation- In fact, as an experienced marketing pro- al Association of Asian American Profession- fessional and event planner, Garces thought als - San Diego and with the San Diego Asian what better time to launch her company So- Pacific Islander (API) Coalition she’s helped cial Artistry, a business focused on empow- reach out in solidarity and to support Asian ering diverse communities through events. and Pacific Islander-owned small businesses “You know what better time to really show experiencing not only financial challenges but to the community like these are the types of discrimination due to the pandemic. events, these are the types of programming, “It’s important that we support them be- this is the type of way I want to serve in our cause, you know ... discriminating against community,” Garces said. “I really want- Photo Courtesy of Social Artistry our hard-working Asian and Pacific Islander ed to lean into...what I felt my purpose was Social Artistry supported Cross Street Chicken and Beer in the Convoy District for the first-ever business owners, is a misguided way to put with my company, which was to serve our live mural reveal in the neighborhood. your emotions,” Garces said. n diverse communities, give them more access to opportunities and She came to San Diego State her childhood dream of owning a business. get more resources.” University to pursue a degree The name “social artistry” reflects her Social Artistry Over the past year, Social Art- in marketing because she said company’s vision of “creating sustainable istry adapted to serve San Di- it seemed like the most creative economic and cultural impact with com- FOUNDED: 2020 ego’s multicultural and hardest path in business and it allowed munity leaders and organizations through CEO: Lauren Balcita Garces hit communities through proj- her to use both her creative and creative events.” HEADQUARTERS: Based in San Diego | Event ect collaborations with the city, strategic mindset. To stave off experience in San Francisco and New York county, local ethnic chambers homesickness and find communi- Working Together BUSINESS: Social Artistry focuses on creating of commerce and more than 30 ty, she got involved in clubs such For Garces, making that vision a reality sustainable economic and cultural impact with community-based organizations as the Asian Pacific Student Alli- means using her business to bring attention community leaders and organizations through events. across the San Diego region. Lauren Balcita Garces ance and the American Market- to the Asian and Pacific Islander commu- EMPLOYEES: 1 CEO ing Association. nities and key decision makers so they can WEBSITE: socialartistry.co Connecting Communities Social Artistry Garces found event production work together toward equity. NOTABLE: Founder Lauren Balcita Garces was Growing up in Kapolei, Hawaii on the big through her first internship at Silk Road Pro- “A really big thing for me is like, I see a named one of the 2021 Women of Distinction for Civic Engagement by Mayor Todd Gloria during island of Oahu, Garces said she didn’t dream ductions, and eventually rose to become a vice lot of the groups that I work with a lot of Women’s History Month. of being an event producer. However, she did president at the company. Then in May of the people that I work with are different like CONTACT: [email protected] dream of owning her own company. last year, she felt that it was finally time to live puzzle pieces,” Garces said. “Everyone has He Went from Parking Cars to Owning a Law Firm LEGAL: Attorney Specializes in Immigration Cases

By RAY HUARD who was born here. She’s a fortunate one,” Chu said. Harsh treatment was behind Peter D. Daughter Lillian is a lawyer in Chu’s of- Chu’s decision to become a lawyer special- fice. Chu said his two other daughters also izing in immigration cases. worked as lawyers in his office for a time but Chu emigrated from Hong Kong to Ha- left to raise families. waii in 1960 when he was 11-years-old with his parents, two brothers and a sister. Understanding to Come As part of the naturalization process, Chu Chu is president of the Chinese Consolidat- said he had to be fingerprinted. ed Benevolent Association of San Diego, which “When I got my citizenship, I remem- owns a downtown clubhouse and a 44-unit ber the officer treated me very rudely. He affordable apartment complex for seniors. He slammed my hand down to get the finger- said that the recent attacks on Asian-Ameri- prints,” Chu said. “I decided to become an cans as some blame China for the COVID-19 immigration lawyer so I could help other pandemic are dismaying but temporary. people going through the system so they He also is a former director of the San Di- wouldn’t get treated the same way. I can un- ego Opera and a former director of the Asian derstand them better than other attorneys.” American Repertory Theater. “Sooner or later, people understand, Chi- Coming to America Photo courtesy of Law Offices of Peter D. Chu na had nothing to do with it,” Chu said. “I Like many other immigrant families, Chu Peter D. Chu, Founder and Owner, Lillian Chu and Hai G. Huynh specialize in immigration law tell everyone, just put your heads down and said his “came to United States for better life with the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu. America is the land of opportunity. I come opportunities.” across so many people in my office that came His father worked in hotels, eventually be- grade,” Chu said. “I had to sit in little chairs “I wanted a place that was warm, like Ha- to America with nothing and because they coming manager of a Hilton hotel. His moth- with the third graders.” waii. I didn’t want to go to a big city like L.A. were smart enough to work hard, they made er ran a restaurant. or San Francisco. California Western had something of themselves.” n “My dad came to America with $300 and Opening a Practice a lot of students from Hawaii at the time,” very little English. When he retired, he ran one Chu’s earlier decision to become a lawyer Chu said. Law Offices of of the best hotels in Hawaii and he had lunch was cemented when he worked as a valet at Chu opened his practice in 1982 in a Ke- Peter D. Chu with the governor and he knew the senator from a Honolulu hotel while in college, parking arny Mesa office building on Convoy Street Hawaii,” Chu said. “Despite when other people the cars of lawyers and other professionals. and never left. FOUNDED: 1982 say bad things about America, I tell people I’ve “I wanted to be one of them rather than “I’ve been in the same shopping center for FOUNDER/OWNER: Peter D. Chu seen it with my own eyes. People have come here the guy that was parking cars,” Chu said. “I the last 40 years,” Chu said. “People know HEADQUARTERS: Kearny Mesa with nothing and built a million-dollar business.” could have parked cars for the rest of my life. where I am. It’s easy to get to.” BUSINESS: Law firm As a child, Chu said school was a challenge It was a great job really. It paid really well.” The supervising attorney in his law firm NOTABLE: Hong Kong immigrant Peter Chu went because school officials didn’t know what to After earning a bachelor’s degree from the is Hai Huynh, whose family fled Viet Nam from parking cars to establishing his own law firm. do with an English learner. University of Hawaii, Chu went to California among the so-called boat people. WEBSITE: www.peterchu.com To teach him English, “they stuck me in Western School of Law in San Diego, earn- “We all have a similar background. We CONTACT: 858-268-8823 third grade even though I was in the sixth ing his law degree in 1981. all came as immigrants, except my daughter, 18 Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Entrepreneurs MAY 3, 2021

Using Creativity and Code to Amplify Stories TECH: Catherine Eng Designs Programs for People to Learn and Connect

By NATALLIE ROCHA There are 18 Native American Tribes in San Diego County — more than in any oth- As a kid, Catherine Eng dreamed of being er county in the United States, according to an artist. Her creative curiosity drove her to the University of San Diego. Eng said one teach herself coding and inspired her to share of the key elements of the OurWorlds plat- this skill with students through her educa- form is to illustrate how the land informs the tional STEM program, Design Code Build. story of each unique tribe. Her latest venture is an app called Our- “One very important thing to me is to be Worlds, Inc. which seeks to share stories of able to empower Native American...stake- Native American tribal leaders through an holders to be able to tell their own stories augmented and virtual reality platform. and tell their own histories,” Eng said of the Looking back on her career thus far, Eng integral nature of oral tradition in Native has managed to blend her creative and tech- American narratives. nical skills to empower others to design plat- Interviews with tribal leaders were forms and share stories that enable people filmed using volumetric video that captures to connect. three-dimensional space and will translate to an immersive viewing experience. For ex- Design Code Build ample, people can learn the history of the Eng studied film and fine arts at The Coo- Kumeyaay people who originally stewarded per Union for the Advancement of Science and the coastal land we now call La Jolla. Art in Manhattan, and shortly thereafter she For Eng, it was especially important that worked on some of the very first websites on the design respectfully illustrates the aesthetic the internet. of these visual stories and connects with the Throughout her career she has designed audience. The app launched its beta testing and developed popular apps and websites for in April and currently features stories from entertainment brands such as HBO, Nickel- seven locations across the globe from Cal- odeon, Disney Channel, Sony Music, Mattel, Photo Courtesy of Catherine Eng ifornia to France, with plans to expand. n Students can learn how to use Javascript, HTML/PHP and CSS in a project that teaches them Tiger Beat Magazine and Next Model Man- how to code their own Instagram. agement to name a few. Along the way, Eng realized that coding expand opportuni- with local organizations such as Girl Scouts Design Code Build was just an extension of her craft as a design- ties for girls to get of San Diego to provide STEM programs, er — she read manuals and Googled every- involved in com- summer camps and hackathons for K-12 FOUNDED: 2015 thing to better understand her design limita- puter science. students. FOUNDER: Catherine Eng tions and tools. “It bothered me HEADQUARTERS: Downtown San Diego “Really the way I learned inspired me to that like there was OurWorlds BUSINESS: Coding academy for K-12 students open Design Code Build because I realized it this whole game It was through her work with Design that teaches digital media and STEM skills from a was possible that like really anyone can learn,” culture around like Code Build that Eng connected with Our- project-based perspective. Eng said. “If you have something that you’re boys, you know like Worlds co-founder, Kilma S. Lattin, whose EMPLOYEES: Seasonal, between 5-10 really passionate about making...you’ll find gaming culture and son was participating in a coding summer WEBSITE: designcodebuild.com a way.” the girls felt exclud- camp. Together, Eng and Lattin, who is an NOTABLE: Overall, DesignCodeBuild has impacted Originally from New York, Eng came ed from program- Catherine Eng active member of the Pala Band of Mission over 1,000 students, through work with San Diego Founder Unified, UCSD, San Diego French American School to San Diego to be closer to her husband’s ming,” Eng said. Indians, started working on the idea in 2017, and Girl Scouts San Diego. family and in 2015 she co-founded De- Over the years, Design Code Build, as a way of amplifying the voices of Native OurWorlds, Inc. CONTACT: [email protected] sign Code Build. Part of her mission is to she has partnered American stories.

The Vision Endures at Convoy Street’s Dumpling Inn RESTAURANTS: Vietnam, China, Kentucky, O.C. All Make Their Mark on Eatery

By BRAD GRAVES COVID economy. It’s not unusual to find asked if she wanted to go into business for Convoy Street. The neighborhood is “a her running food out to tables or serving herself. Her initial answer was no. Then super fun area,” Vuong Tobin said, full of It’s been quite a run, the last six years at as hostess. she learned of the vision for Dumpling family businesses run by people in their Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon. She wasn’t always doing this. Inn. mid-30s. Convoy Street attracts a young Founded in 1994, the business occupied She grins behind her mask and looks crowd, she added. The area has not un- a small storefront in a Convoy Street strip Buying Into the Vision around. The place is clean and bright, but dergone a gentrification but rather a re- center, keeping six tables well occupied. Vuong Tobin there are no white tablecloths. This is a vitalization. Six years ago the business owners had studied psycholo- place where you can dress up or come as Dumpling Inn is now open for indoor the chance to become the center’s anchor gy and human be- you are. You can bring your grandmother dining. Vuong Tobin said she is hopeful tenant. They decorated the new space — havior at the Uni- here. “It’s very traditional and nontradi- for the business when she sees former cus- formerly occupied by a grocery store — versity of Califor- tional,” she said. “It’s comfortable, organ- tomers return, and when she sees the atti- with sidewalk café touches and put in an nia, Irvine with a ic, fun.” tude of her staff. extensive bar. Five years ago, Sandy Vuong minor in manage- “I have an amazing team,” she said. Tobin and her family bought the busi- ment. Restaurants Kentucky and Convoy “When I look at them, it keeps me go- ness. The stretch of Convoy grew more had always been So Vuong Tobin traded her office job ing.” n trendy, then COVID hit. Like its neigh- a family business, for 12-hour days, running a San Diego bors, Dumpling Inn set up tables under but Vuong To- restaurant with her sister Pricilla Vuong. tents in its parking lot. bin said she had a Sandy Vuong Tobin The common denominator with both jobs Dumpling Inn & Today Vuong Tobin is talking recovery, “comfortable ca- Owner-Operator is work with people, which Vuong Tobin Shanghai Saloon and the variables that go into making a reer” doing mar- Dumpling Inn & relishes. “I miss the 8 to 5, but there is the Shanghai Saloon restaurant turn a profit. She is seated at a keting for a dental same human interaction.” FOUNDED: 1994 big table in the saloon part of the restau- corporation in Orange County. The restaurant business has also offered OWNER-OPERATOR: Sandy Vuong Tobin rant, unused as it is noontime. She has It was a different road from the one her opportunities not available to a market- ADDRESS: 4625 Convoy St. room for 360 customers but, for now, can father took. Phat Vuong emigrated from ing person with an 8-to-5 job. Prior to BUSINESS: Restaurant and bar only operate at 50% capacity. One of her Vietnam in 1980 and then worked his COVID, the Vuongs were able to travel EMPLOYEES: 47 pre-COVID, 40 today greatest needs at the moment, she said, way up from dishwasher to head chef at to Kentucky to produce special editions WEBSITE: www.dumplinginn.com is staff. a restaurant at the then-new Horton Plaza of Maker’s Mark bourbon, selecting the NOTABLE: Sandy Vuong Tobin’s father, Phat Vuong, “We’re fortunate to have the team we shopping center. Today he runs his own particular wood which would give the fin- runs the 10-table Minh Ky restaurant on El Cajon have,” she said, adding that it is “all hands small restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard. ished product its unique flavor. Boulevard on deck” as Convoy Street shakes off the Vuong Tobin recalled the day her father In addition, there is the unique feel of CONTACT: (858) 268-9638 MAY 3, 2021 www.sdbj.com 19

In honor of Asian American and Paciﬁc Islander Heritage Month, The San Diego Business Journal and Asian Business Association San Diego is proud to present Asian Paciﬁc Islander Businesses of the Year Awards and a panel discussion on celebrating, uniting and creating change in the Asian community.

Virtual event This event is generously brought to you by our sponsors Thursday May 20, 2021 2pm - 3:30 pm

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