 Shop Small This Saturday, and Beyond
Saturday, November 26, 2022 is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Please join SBA and organizations across the country in supporting your local small businesses by shopping at a small business
Shop and Dine Seattle's International District This Holiday Season
Last week, SBA Pacific Northwest Regional Administrator Mike Fong and SBA Seattle District Director Kerrie Hurd joined community leaders in Seattle's Chinatown-International District (CID) to explore a variety of family-owned shops and restaurants to hear about business first-hand, and to highlight the bounty that Seattle's CID has to offer.
Led by Monisha Singh, Executive Director of the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA), the walking tour featured long time favorites as well as new additions to this historic and dynamic Seattle neighborhood. Throughout the year, the CIDBIA hosts Food Walks in the International District, and this Saturday, Nov. 26 marks the return of the Small Business Saturday Food Walk, featuring special offerings from these businesses, and many more!
 Our visit started in the hilltop neighborhood of Little Saigon, at a long-time community favorite, Chu Minh Tofu Vegan Deli. Owner and Chef Tanya Nguyen opened her restaurant in 2011 and has developed a reputation for delicious vegan versions of poplar dishes, as well as her time-honored tradition of serving free meals to those in need every Sunday - providing hundreds of free meals each week! Nguyen expressed a positive outlook for the future of her neighborhood and plans to expand her business and offerings.
 Next, we stopped into Phnom Penh Noodle House to visit with second generation owners, and sisters, Dawn Ung, Darlene Ung, and Diane Le. Since their father, Sam Ung, opened the restaurant in 1987, Phnom Penh Noodle House has become a fixture in this close-knit community. Following a two-year closure due to family tragedy, the sisters announced a much-celebrated reopening in a new location in 2020. After navigating the challenges of opening a restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic, Phnom Penh Noodle House is back in stride serving the dishes that Seattleites have loved for 35 years.
 Just down the street is Sairen, a modern and creative shop filled with an eclectic mix of Japanese, Hawaiin, and Seattle made goods. Expanding on the clothing brand they established in 2017, Morning Siren, owners Kaitlin Uemura and Kaitlin Madriaga opened the Sairen store in 2020 with the mission to "support a growing movement of independent Asian-American, POC, and local designers." From clothing to artwork, greeting cards, and unique items, you are bound to find something for yourself and a gift for someone else!
 Moksha, a clothing boutique, art and event space, and longtime staple in the University District, recently relocated to Seattle's International District. Their new space is still home to some of the art and fashion that built their following, and now offers immersive experiences in light and sound therapies.
Thank you to these small business and community advocates for their collaboration:
Shop Small and Support Your Local Businesses
Stay tuned for highlights from our Spokane walking tour on Friday, Nov. 24, and remember to Shop Small this holiday season, wherever you may find yourself.
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