Business Spotlight: KK Discount
Editor’s Note (11.29.20): This piece has been updated with new details about KK Discount, one of our Longevity Fund grant recipients. How can you continue to support businesses like KK Discount? Be sure to shop local this holiday season and consider making a donation to our fund here.
Tell us who you are!
We immigrated to the US in 1978 with only a few dollars in our pockets, with the goal of living the American dream. As cliche as it may sound, we truly wanted to do what we can to give our children the education and opportunities we did not have ourselves. We worked 12-15 hours days and saved as much as we can by using hand me downs from friends and family.
How did KK Discount get started?
With every penny we saved, KK Discount Store was born. Being able to own a business was the epitome of living out our dreams. Our store has been opened for over 30+ years, and it has been our pride and joy because we have been able to serve the community for so many years (and put our two kids through college!). What makes us really unique is that it has truly been a family-operated business since the beginning. Our children’s afterschool/summer program was to help out at the store. Now our toddler granddaughter joins in on the family business and is amazing at greeting customers!
What is KK Discount most well known for?
Most people know KK Discount Store as the mom-and-pop version of Target. You come in for one thing and come out with a shopping bag full of random goods! From restaurant quality chef knives to cast iron Japanese tea sets - we got you covered!
What is one of the most unique things a shopper can find in your shop?
This is a tough question, because it's almost like asking who your favorite child is! For the 30+ years we have been open, one of the most unique things we carry are the traditional Chinese dishware. Customers continue to come back to restock their pantry, and we have a feeling it may be due to the fact that it's nostalgic to eat with the same dishes/bowls their grandmothers used to feed their kids/grandkids lots of homecooked dishes. Who doesn't love the warm feelings of eating tomato and eggs over rice in the fortune bowls?
What is something about Chinese culture that you love and would like to share with others visiting Chinatown?
Food. Most of us are foodies to some extent and coming to Chinatown is the ultimate playground to taste a wide range of delicious cuisines. We love the wonton mein at HK Wonton Garden, modern take on Hong Kong waffles at Eggloo, traditional baked goods at Tai Pan, chicken clay pot at Noodle Village - this is just a small fraction of places to go and satisfy your stomach to the fullest with some of the best comfort food!
KK Discount owners Mr. and Mrs. Li
What do you love most about Chinatown?
We love how everyone in the small-knit community looks after each other. Within the entire time KKDS has been opened, we truly have been through it all together - 9/11, blizzards, riots, Covid. To not feel alone during rough times and to see everyone come together for support means a lot to us. We also get to witness loyal customers go through major life events like graduating college, getting their first jobs, marriages, babies.... there's something special about growing old together with the community.
How does receiving a Longevity Fund grant help your business?
The Longevity Fund grant helps us pay our rent for the months that we were closed and wasn't able to do business. Despite the closure, we were still responsible for the recurring monthly expenses.
Is there anything you'd like people to know about what it's like to run a business these days, or how you except Chinatown may change or evolve because of COVID's impact?
Business continues to be very slow and is still down enormously compared to the same time last year. We supply a lot of the local restaurants with our products, and currently that side of our business is underperforming by over 80%. Even with indoor/outdoor dining, we don't see it going back to normal anytime soon. Unemployment is also causing people to spend less in general.
How can people support you and your business?
With restaurants closing, big box retailers expanding in the neighborhood and the likes of Amazon taking over the world, some people may forget about us small folks. Business was already slow in Chinatown before Covid, and now it's completely devastated. Multiple stores on our block are now closed for good. Chinatown needs everyone's support more than ever. Come and swing by the shop for your everyday needs or shop online at kkdiscount.com.
Don't need anything? Still swing on by and say hello! On tough days, a quick hello can really go a long way. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook (@kkdiscount) or leave a review on Google. Any form of support will mean a lot to us!
Chinatown establishments like KK Discount are what makes the spirit of our neighborhood. We need your support now more than ever before to keep that spirit alive. Please consider making a donation to our small business relief fund, The Longevity Fund, or help us spread the word of what’s at stake. Together, we can preserve Chinatown businesses and help say Chinatown will always be open for business.
