BUSINESS BUZZ
Far East
Ricky Tith opened Hong Meas in January
on the South Coast by Michael J. DeCicco
If the Asian-American immigrant business community across the South Coast has one thing in common, it’s that it wasn’t easy to get where they are today. But through a lot of pure determination and community support, they’ve succeeded. A prime example of an Asian-American immigrant’s success on the South Coast is Ying Zhao. The first of his Ying Dynasty chain of restaurants opened at 724 Dartmouth Street, South Dartmouth, in 2003. His second location opened in the former Cathay Temple building in Mattapoisett at 24 County Road in 2010. His location at 4422 Acushnet Avenue, Sassaquin, New Bedford, debuted in 2012, and the former China Garden eatery became “Ying” at 265 Marion Road, Wareham, in 2016. Zhao and his family emigrated to Fairhaven from Xinhui, China in the small province of Guangdong, when he was 15 years old. A week after arriving In America he started working as a dishwasher at his aunt’s restaurant, Wah May in downtown New Bedford, as he overcame language and cultural barriers to earn his diploma from Fairhaven High School. His next job was working as a bartender at his uncle’s restaurant, Gumbo, in North Dartmouth.
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He wasn’t seriously considering becoming a restaurateur until after meeting his wife on a trip back to China. Because his wife was pregnant by the time he had to return to America, he became serious with his career, and his Ying Dynasty chain of Chinese cuisine eateries were born. “Believe it or not I didn’t really have a plan,” he said. “I just knew that I didn’t want to and couldn’t continually live in this fantasy life where everything is spur-ofthe-moment. So I guess I have to thank my kids for being the motivation for me to be serious about my career.” For his Mattapoisett expansion, Zhao said he has to thank “a very special man in my life – Angelo D. Paolini Chicky. He was the landlord of Mattapoisett location. I didn’t know him back then; one day he and his business partner Michael J. Penta walked into my Dartmouth restaurant and looked to speak with the owner. I sat down with them and he asked me if I am
May 2021 | The South Coast Insider
interested in taking over the old Cathy Temple. I learned that their company owns the property and land of 24 County Road in Mattapoisett; the tenant had been behind in rent for a long time. And they were looking for someone to take over the space. I went to check the place, thought about if I am capable of opening another restaurant, and I said yes.” Similarly, he was able to open the restaurants in New Bedford and Wareham because of the good rapport he had with their previous owners. Zhao’s former coworkers say there is another reason for his success, though, starting with his reputation for having a generous and trustworthy nature. Summer, who declined to reveal her last name, said his experience has taught him a lot
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I guess I have to thank my kids for being the motivation for me to be serious about my career - Ying Zhao
