“I feel like everybody’s had this. You had the crispy fried tofu with spicy pepper salt,” said Connie Chuong. Since 2004, generations of Grinnellians have come to enjoy dishes like crispy fried tofu and more at Chuong Garden, Grinnell’s primary restaurant for Chinese fare, run by Connie Choung and her parents Tracey and Charley Chuong. After 22 years of being a staple of the Grinnell community, however, Chuong Garden closed its doors this past July.
Despite ending in Grinnell, the story of Chuong Garden began in China, where Charley and Tracey grew up together. It wasn’t until the 1980s that they made the decision to immigrate to the United States with the hope of building a new life together, landing first in Los Angeles.
“They spent most of their life working in the restaurant industry. Their passion for food and hospitality led them to Iowa in the early 2000s, and that’s where they set out to open a Chinese restaurant in small town Grinnell,” said Connie, who translated for Tracey and Charley in their interview with The S&B.
The Chuongs were initially drawn to Iowa because of family who lived in the state. During one family visit, they happened to pass through Grinnell, which they recognized as a special place. “They picked Grinnell because when they visited they liked it. There’s a college there, so it helps reach not just the community, but also Grinnell College students,” said Connie.
It was clear to Tracey and Charley that Grinnell would be the perfect place to raise their family and open a restaurant. “There was one Chinese buffet at the time, but there weren’t that many Asian restaurants. So that’s also why they chose it,” said Connie.
The restaurant was a reflection of the Chuongs’ work and family, so as a result it took the family name. “Chuong is our family last name,” Connie said. “We wanted a restaurant to feel personal and to also represent our family, so it’s just my mom Tracy, my dad Charley, me, Connie — I’m the oldest — and then my younger brother William. But we added ‘Garden’ to also create a warm, welcoming feeling, a name that represents growth, community and also bringing people together.”
Chuong Garden played a central role in both Connie’s and William’s childhoods, as both worked with their parents in the restaurant. “Our days revolved around Chuong Garden,” said Connie. Even throughout high school, Connie said she would return alongside her brother to help in the restaurant during summer breaks.
“They raised my brother and I there. They and we, you know, grew up alongside the restaurant,” said Connie.
In spite of the many changes to the restaurant industry in Grinnell since Choung Garden first opened in 2004, such as the rise of online ordering services and DoorDash, the Chuongs continued to stay true to a more traditional model of running a restaurant. Connie recalled that “the one thing that remained the same is the importance of good food, hard work and also building relationships.”
The closing of Chuong Garden marked the beginning of Tracey and Charley’s retirement, as Connie said it had been within their plans for some time. Despite the decision arriving at a good time for the family — since Connie now has a family of her own — the change remains bittersweet.
“It was never just a business to us. It was our home, our livelihood and also a place where so many other families made memories as well,” Connie said. “We definitely will miss seeing all our regular customers.”
In the end, the Chuongs said they achieved what they hoped to establish when they first arrived in Grinnell. “When we look back, they [Tracey and Charley] do feel really proud and grateful for what we’ve built,” Connie said. “They came to this country hoping to build a better life, and they feel that Chuong Garden has become part of that dream.”
For 22 years, Chuong Garden fed the town of Grinnell at its 915 Broad St. address. This fall, Pang’s Asian Bistro is set to replace it, under a different ownership.
