Tap Phong Part 2: An Enduring Labour of Love
“I just remember grandma had a couple of odd jobs, but she was basically my second mother. [She] raised me, my brothers, and my cousins, cooked all the family meals, while my grandfather, Mom and Dad, aunt and uncle were working jobs. They were working sometimes two or three jobs, opened Tap Phong...but from the time they woke up, I maybe saw my mom for like 15 minutes when she was making breakfast, which was cereal most of the time, but maybe a toast if we were lucky. Warm toast. And then just talking to us, getting us ready for school. And then, I wouldn't see her until maybe for about 15-20 minutes when she came back from work at around nine, put me to bed, and that was it for 20 plus years.”
Tap Phong, Part 1: The "Collection or the Best of Everything"
For over 30 years and across 3 generations, Tap Phong has remained an iconic institution in the food service industry, and a true pillar to their community. The Tran family’s journey is a shining example of the immigrant experience - one that is rooted in survival through grit, owing its humble rise to notoriety to no more than uncompromising work ethics and a genuine desire to help their customers. What is remarkable is how seamlessly they’ve retained their business - and family - values while constantly evolving with each new generation.