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This article by Kathy Spring was prepared for the April 14, 2004
issue of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
Out of the Kitchen, Into the Tile Store
Ming Poon didn’t want his two young daughters, age 5 and 7, to grow up
in a Chinese restaurant – or any restaurant. So he sold Ming’s Garden,
which is located in Kingston, and has opened a tile and stone store,
also in Kingston.
"The girls are in school now. They have to get up early," says Poon.
Hanging around the restaurant until late at night made them tired the
next day. Now they are at home with their mother, in the family’s new
home in Monmouth Junction, and Poon is putting in long days getting
his store ready. "I’m excited but tired," he says.
Poon came to the United States in 1983 at age 17. "I had $200 and
change in my pockets," he says. He also had an uncle who was a chef at
Good Time Charley’s restaurant. His uncle got him a job in the
kitchen, and he moved up from there, working at the restaurant for 16
years, and saving enough to open his own restaurant.
"When you come to this country, you have to expect to work harder," he
says. "If you’re not ready to work hard, you should not come." Still,
there are limits to hard work, and Poon drew the line when his
youngsters became involved.
As the nearly 24-hour restaurant lifestyle began to wear on his
family, Poon began to cast about for a new business. He had friends in
the tile business, and began to research it, spending hours waiting in
line at wholesalers and at chain home improvement stores. When he
found it hard to attract the attention of salespeople, he concluded
that the residential market is being underserved.
Working for two months at getting his store open, Poon has stocked
granite, marble, ceramic tile, and porcelain, and plans to add glass
soon. The area is hungry for upscale, high-quality home improvement
upgrades, he believes.
He has done some work with a contractor, and feels confident in
recommending his services to customers. He is also assembling a team
of installers. "It will be two businesses," he says, "sales and
installation."
And what kind of materials does he enjoy in his own kitchen? "Oh, it
is a simple kitchen," he says. Upgrades will have to wait a while,
until his new business is fully-staffed and running smoothly.
Kingston 08540. Ming Poon, owner. 609-252-0868; fax, 609-252-0288.
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