The staff has just been told, but what a gut punch. David Fong’s in Bloomington is closing at the end of August. I just had lunch there a couple weeks ago but will have to return before the final day. Ed is a truly kind guy, and the staff has been there for years.
From the news release: “We’ve had an amazing run with David Fong’s, and have proudly carried my parents’ dream and legacy forward all these years,” Ed says. “They started a small Chinese carryout spot more than 64 years ago, and it grew into a beautiful restaurant serving their favorite Chinese dishes.”
Talk about a family business: Ed’s sister Cindy Le operates Fong’s Restaurant, Bar, and Event Center in Prior Lake, and brother David Fong Jr runs D.Fong’s “Chinese Cuisine” in Savage. Over the years, many of their 13 grandchildren have also worked in the family’s restaurants.
The David Fong story is inspiring, too. He came to Minnesota from China as a child, worked at his parents’ restaurant, Moy Cafe in North Minneapolis. Then they opened a carryout spot in Bloomington followed by a full-service restaurant in 1966. With the fish tank and huge bar, so many local Rotary club meetings or business deals have been closed in the restaurant that’s home to the iconic DAVID FONG’S sign outside.