Dear Sun,
I know you don’t like getting personal, but I was just wondering about how you were doing. I came into the shop this week, and I was surprised to find out that you passed on the business to someone else, and are now traveling abroad in China! I was saddened by this, as I know you have devoted nine years towards building the shop into the neighborhood staple it is now. It seemed like such a sudden decision, but then again, you never did like to talk much, so I would not have expected to receive warning.
I walked into the store this week as I usually do. I made sure to turn off my ringer and hide my phone in my pocket a block before entering the store, made sure my hands were clean and empty, and remained quiet and tiptoed when I walked in. It was a super windy day too so I even made sure to shut the door softly so it did not slam! The fragrant smell of oolong hit me instantly as it always does, however, this time, I was greeted by Red, whom I now know is temporarily watching the shop until the new owner takes over. I must admit it was a bit odd to be greeted with a friendly “hello” by Red when I visited this week. As he struck up a conversation, I couldn’t help but feel guilty that we were breaking your sacred rules! I kept glancing over at your signs that read “No Video, No Ice Cream, No Food +Drink.” I am very used to you reciting these rules when I enter, and encouraging no talking. I remember the first time I came to your shop, you yelled at me and demanded that I leave because I had a phone in my hand. That is why I walk in so cautiously now, as I don’t want to risk missing out on what is important: your tea.
Though the ingrained caution towards the shop by your customers may be taken as humorous, I want to let you know that your legacy is felt deeper in the community. I had the honor of being able to spend a couple hours sitting at the shop with Red, and was able to meet many of your customers. Like me, they all walked in with an rehearsed caution. “What will I drink now to ease my migraines?,” “What will I take to sleep at night now?,” and “How will I calm my anxiety?” were among many of the questions asked when they realized that you no longer owned the shop. I understand their panic, as they explained that no other medicines or products had cured them like your teas.
The quality of your tea is undoubtedly the best, and your formulas so uniquely and carefully crafted. I learned from Red that you source your teas from all over the world, including China, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, Ghana, and Nepal. I also learned that you derive your formulas from familial tradition, but also research the different ingredients you use, and how they affect the body and heal ailments. Your customers do not have to worry about their favorite teas being gone, as Red informed me that the new owner will be using your recipes still. What eased my sadness that you will be gone is that the new owner is someone who’s life you impacted greatly. She worked in the twin towers, and continued working in that area post 9/11. She began to experience serious health problems in her lungs, and tried every medicine under the sun. Nothing helped her, until she stumbled upon your tea shop and tried your formulas. She has not experienced lung problems since.
Your impact upon her life and the lives of so many others brings me comfort. Though we will no longer have your physical presence, our journey towards greater health through your work will forever be remembered by your customers. You will be dearly missed, but your legacy will be carried out through the success stories told of your healing, and through every sip of tea taken.
Sincerely,
Anh Dao
For my archive visit I went to the Museum of Chinese in America. Though they did not have a lot of resources on specifically tea shops in Chinatown, being able to look at photos of old Chinatown businesses was informative in itself. My project concentrated specifically on Sun’s Organic Garden, however, my goal was to explore the dynamic of a traditional Chinatown business, and its impact on the community. The paper and materials used to make my zine were sourced from a calligraphy supplier in Chinatown, in order to create this sense of community found in material goods exchanged at local businesses. My inspiration for the project stems from my comparison of newer Asian American businesses such as bubble tea shops, and older Chinatown businesses such as Sun’s Organic. Newer Asian American businesses are now trendy and heavily concentrated on marketing. Older Chinatown businesses are not representative of this, and rely on word of mouth and local demand for specific products. I think Sun’s Organic was a prime example of this, as shown in my depiction of the relationship between Sun’s aggressive and strong personality and her ability to still maintain a strong client base. Most businesses now have formulated ways of creating a positive customer experience, while older Chinatown businesses maintain clients based on quality products, rather than a service experience.
Works Cited
Kaufman, Joanne. “Bubble Tea Purveyors Continue to Grow Along With Drink’s Popularity.” The New York Times. August 16, 2017. Accessed February 28, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/16/business/smallbusiness/bubble-tea.html.
“New York Chinatown History.” New York. Accessed February 28, 2019. http://new-york-chinatown.info/chinatown-history/.
Rosen, Elisabeth. “Asian-American Women Forge New Paths as Entrepreneurs.” Nikkei Asian Review. March 19, 2018. Accessed February 28, 2019. https://asia.nikkei.com/Location/Rest-of-the-World/North-America/Asian-American-women-forge-new-paths-as-entrepreneurs.
“Wing Wah Tea Parlor and Hop Lee Rice Shoppe on Bayard Street.” Digital image. Accessed February 28, 2019.