#248: Interview With My Grandpa Fong: Immigrating From a War-Torn Country at Age 8 → How He Turned $5/Week Into a Community Pillar

Beyond Curious ™

Twelve days after his 87th birthday, my grandpa passed away.

After we said our goodbyes at the funeral and shared a meal together, my family gathered back at his house.

That’s when many of them found out something they hadn’t known:

Several years before his passing, I sat down with my grandpa for six hours of interviews — just asking him questions about his life.

So we pulled out my uncle's Bluetooth speaker, set it on the floor, and for the first time together… listened.

His unforgettable laugh. His voice. His story.

It was one of the most connective family experiences I’ve had.

Originally, I never intended on publishing the recordings.

But after he passed, the first thing I turned to were those audio files.

And after relistening to all 6 hours, one thing became clear:

My grandpa’s story deserves to be told.

Born in a war-torn region of China. Immigrated to the U.S. at age 8 without either of his parents. Couldn’t speak the language. Worked himself to the bone making $5 per week to provide for his family. Faced loan rejection after loan rejection chasing the dream of opening his own restaurant…

… And somehow, through grit and the help of those who believed in him, he built a restaurant that became a staple of the Milwaukee community for 39 years.

But this story isn’t just about my grandpa...

It’s about your family’s stories too.

Because as much as I want you to hear about my grandpa’s journey, my intention is that it inspires you to do something simple yet powerful:

Click record, and get curious with the people you love.

When I sat down to interview my grandpa, I uncovered stories that even my dad didn’t know.

It deepened my self-awareness, helped me understand the mindsets passed from him to my dad… and ultimately to me.

It was a healing journey — and one that gave me the clarity to choose which beliefs I want to carry forward, and which ones I’m ready to evolve.

And finally — this episode is my way of consciously rewriting my grandpa’s story.

In the end, he didn’t believe his life was a success.

But I do.

And I hope it inspires you to reflect on the stories in your lineage — and the power we all have to shape the narratives that carry forward.

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Kenny Fong

Brandon Fong introduces a uniquely personal episode dedicated to his late grandfather, Kenny Fong, who passed away on May 31, 2025. Brandon reflects on the emotional journey of capturing six hours of interviews before his grandfather's passing and how these recordings became a family treasure.

01:43 - The Power of Recording Family Stories

Brandon shares how recording these interviews became a priceless gift, both for preserving family history and deepening self-awareness. He encourages listeners to do the same with their loved ones.

03:03 - Rewriting a Legacy: Honoring Grandpa Fong’s True Success

Brandon explains his purpose behind sharing this episode—to consciously rewrite his grandfather’s story, which he believed wasn’t a success, despite its incredible substance.

04:43 - Escaping War-Torn China as a Child

Kenny recounts his childhood in Taishan, China during the Second Sino-Japanese War, revealing a life shaped by fear, survival, and early trauma.

07:05 - A Terrifying Journey to America at Age 8

Kenny shares the harrowing details of immigrating to the U.S. as a child, including a terrifying plane ride and being separated from his brother during immigration processing.

09:12 - Reuniting with His Father and Life in a New World

Kenny's first reunion with his father was awkward and distant, not the joyful moment he had imagined. He slowly adapts to life in America and later joins the U.S. Army.

10:15 - A Lucky Twist of Fate in the Army

A hilarious and heartwarming story of how Kenny narrowly missed deployment thanks to a last-minute cancellation, which inadvertently allowed the future Fong family to exist.

12:35 - A Dream to Escape $5/Week and Build a Better Life

Kenny describes his determination to start his own restaurant after earning only $5/week. He faced doubt—even from family—but remained steadfast in his dream.

15:28 - Visualizing His Dream Restaurant in a Parking Lot

Kenny shares an emotional and vivid memory of sitting in a parking lot at 3:30 a.m., exhausted from work, dreaming of owning the restaurant he often stared at.

16:53 - Relentless Rejection from Banks

Kenny repeatedly gets denied for a loan, but his determination drives him to keep trying. His perseverance is tested but unwavering.

22:33 - Divine Timing: A Stranger Opens the Door

Just when Kenny is about to give up, a chance encounter at a lumber yard leads to a referral that finally gets him in touch with someone who believes in him.

26:53 - He Gets the Loan—And Chooses Loyalty Over a Better Deal

Even after receiving a second loan offer with better terms, Kenny stays loyal to the first banker who gave him a chance, showing his character and values.

30:20 - Opening a Restaurant on a Shoestring Budget

With just $20,000 (equivalent to $119,000 today), Kenny frugally launches his restaurant, sharing a hilarious story of painting the ceiling with $5 orange paint from China—or so he claimed.

33:39 - Community Support and Donuts as Currency

Two detectives who liked Kenny volunteered to help him build the restaurant in exchange for donuts. Their kindness became a pivotal moment in completing construction.

36:27 - Only $5 Left and Nothing to Serve

As opening day approached, Kenny had only $5 in his pocket and no food. But vendors he had built relationships with stepped up and offered food on credit because they trusted him.

40:29 - A Flood of Customers on Opening Day

Kenny recalls the overwhelming first day where customers lined up, and he ran out of food—every day for a week. His restaurant had immediate, chaotic success.

43:46 - The Restaurant Becomes a Community Staple

Kenny's restaurant grows to become one of Milwaukee’s busiest. His son (Brandon’s father) becomes the lead cook, and the dishwasher station becomes a war zone of nonstop work.

46:08 - Grandpa Fong’s Enduring Frugality and Quirks

Brandon fondly remembers his grandpa using a newspaper as a pillow and watering down soap to stretch supplies, showcasing his lifelong scrappiness.

48:08 - The Restaurant Closes, but His Recipes Live On

After nearly four decades, the restaurant closes. Kenny reflects on the requests he received for his famous recipes—but admits he never measured anything and couldn’t replicate them.

50:47 - A Legacy of Supporting Future Generations

Kenny supported Brandon’s dad in opening his own restaurant, even if he didn’t fully believe in the idea. Brandon relates this to how his own father supported him.

55:56 - Grandpa Gives Himself a “B” Despite a Life of Success

Kenny humbly rates his life a “B” because he couldn't give his family luxury, despite raising five children and six grandchildren, all of whom graduated college.

58:12 - Rewriting the Final Chapter: Grandpa, You Get an A+

Brandon beautifully reframes his grandfather’s story as an undeniable success and honors his life with conscious storytelling, ensuring future generations know his strength, values, and heart.

59:57 - Final Reflections and A Message to Future Generations

The episode ends with Kenny’s heartfelt advice: take care of your family and be honest. Brandon leaves listeners with a call to action to preserve their own family legacies.

Links & Resources:

• Trevor Blake Podcast Episode – The Power of the "Torso Wand"

ONE LAST THING:

At the end of the show, you heard me talk about an opportunity for YOU to leave a legacy for future generations when I told you about Dads Making History.

Check out the last ~5 mins to hear me talk about this in detail, but here's what's relevant:

1. Go to dadsmakinghistory.com to learn what it's all about
2. If you want to see an example of my wife Leah and myself doing this, here's a sample we recorded for our daughter, Kaiya, just the other month.