Family-owned New Fong’s is closing after nearly two decades

REXBURG – New Fong’s is closing its doors aft 18 years of business.

Saturday is nan past time of operation, and it’s a bittersweet extremity of an era for nan Fongs.

When Jacky and Yan Fong moved to nan United States from Hong Kong and mainland China, they wanted to stock Chinese cuisine and civilization pinch Rexburg. In 1995, they opened their first edifice astatine Fong’s connected Main Street. They yet decided to grow, truthful successful 2007 they closed Fong’s and opened New Fong’s astatine 352 South 2nd West, wherever they could person a larger abstraction person to nan Brigham Young University-Idaho campus.

The mates precocious decided to adjacent New Fong’s to return a break to recreation and walk much clip pinch family.

“(The Fongs want) a small play of clip wherever they tin refresh and rejuvenate to commencement a caller section of their lives,” said Karen Fong, Jacky and Yan’s girl who translated for them.

The Fongs’ 4 children telephone themselves “restaurant kids” and spent a batch of clip successful nan edifice aft school. Most of them started moving astatine New Fong’s astatine astir 13 years old.

“It’s been great,” Karen said. “We’ve seen our parents make truthful galore sacrifices for us, and seeing them make sacrifices makes america want to make sacrifices for them.”

The Fongs are grateful for nan community’s support complete nan years and person enjoyed bringing their civilization to Rexburg. They opportunity it will only beryllium a break.

“It’s astir sharing our passion pinch others and being successful a organization pinch specified awesome people,” Karen said connected behalf of Jacky. “We’ve raised a family here. It’s our 2nd home. It’s thing that we’re proud of. It’s a portion of our history, actually. Being capable to stock it pinch nan remainder of nan world, aliases moreover Rexburg and nan surrounding areas, it’s been really a awesome grant to do that.”

The Fongs are trading edifice items passim nan week, including diningware, tables, chairs and art, immoderate of which are from China. Visit New Fongs astatine 352 South 2nd West to acquisition immoderate items.

Items for waste astatine New Fong’s | Isabella Sosa-Salazar, EastIdahoNews.com

The Fongs will lease nan building to Masala Indian Cuisine, a sit-down edifice that specializes successful North Indian food. Owner Jaideep Gill plans to unfastened nan edifice successful November.