Today we’d like to introduce you to Khailing Neoh.
Hi Khailing, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. My parents and grandparents immigrated here in the 80s and soon after opened a few Chinese American restaurants. Their hard work and perseverance afforded me the opportunity to receive a degree in Chemical Engineering and “succeed” in the corporate world. However, the silent lessons I learned from my family propelled me to find more meaning in my daily life. Community, food, and the life of a small business owner enabled me to quit my job and open a restaurant in Greenville, SC. The goal is to serve authentic Chinese dim sum in an approachable way. Along the way, I’ve held incredible conversations on identity, food, and vulnerabilities with the community. I hope to create a space that is welcoming to the city and every individual feels safe to express themselves freely. My new motto is everyone has a story that deserves to be heard and celebrated.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up in a predominately white community has shaped my outlook on myself and my abilities. Microaggressions being a relatively new term is very prevalent when it comes to my Chinese-American experience. Not being fully understood or seen still takes a toll on me. It comes out in the form of people-pleasing and low self-confidence. However, I’m proud to say therapy has helped me break generational trauma and remove the stigma from being my authentic self. In my personal and professional life, I hope to bring my truest form to the table.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Sum Bar will serve dim sum and cocktails. Dim sum is a Chinese dining experience consisting of small plates ranging from savory dumplings and bbq pork to sweet desserts and treats. Although dim sum has been around for hundreds of years, it has yet to make its way into the average American’s towns and vocabulary (unfortunately!). We’d like to bring dim sum to center stage to celebrate authentic Chinese foods in areas that traditionally have more of a Chinese takeout culture. This goes hand-in-hand with diversity within an area, but we can try to play a part in introducing this cuisine to newcomers.
The “Bar” part of Sum Bar will feature the Chinese liquor Baijiu (pronounced “bye-joe”) which is very exciting. It is the most sold/distributed liquor in the world, yet you’d be hard-pressed to find it in your local bar or beverage store. This is another identifying characteristic we’re proud to share with our community.
It will be exciting to see the customers and friends that walk through our door once we open (01/21). We’ve already had messages from individuals thanking us for bringing this delicious and nostalgic food to Greenville. We’re proud to serve everyone and can’t wait to receive their feedback.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is part of my identity. I’d like to my parents and grandparents for teaching me risk taking is an investment in yourself and your future. For immigrants, I can’t imagine a greater risk than uprooting your family and lifestyle in the hopes of a better tomorrow. That doubles down when you open a small business. Not all of my family’s endeavors have been successful. Actually, I think there are probably just as many mistakes/failures as there are successes. But I am grateful to have learned that from them. I am a risk taker and understanding that about myself is helpful. Even though I can take the risk – doesn’t mean I always should. “No risk, no reward.”
Pricing:
- siu mai (pork + shrimp dumplings): $5
- char siu bbq pork buns: $7
- baijiu house cocktail: $12
- chrysanthemum tea cocktail: $14
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eatsumbar.com
- Instagram: @SumBar.gvl
Image Credits
Studio Dispatch (Tara Ashton and Will Crooks)
Rony Rivera
