Tariffs hit family-owned grocery store hard, forcing owner to consider closure.
John Wong, the co-founder of Wong Kai Imports, is finding it impossible to keep his family's business afloat due to increased prices imposed by President Trump's tariffs. The tariffs have forced Wong to raise prices on goods as much as 35%, making it difficult for him to compete with larger retailers.
Wong, who voted for Trump in 2024, had hoped that the president's policies would lead to lower prices for consumers. However, he now regrets his decision, stating, "Is that American dream? I don't think so." Wong's store has been a staple in the community for over four decades, and its closure would be a devastating blow to the local residents.
Customers are coming out of the woodwork to beg Wong not to shut down his supermarket. Marilyn McKibben, who shops at the store for various Filipino ingredients, said it was convenient and now feels sad about the prospect of losing her go-to grocery store. Wong has received numerous requests from customers pleading with him to keep the store open.
Wong's struggles are compounded by the fact that his products come from countries such as China, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, which are subject to levies imposed by Trump's tariffs. The costs of goods have increased significantly, leaving Wong with no choice but to raise prices or risk losing business.
The White House has defended Trump's tariff policies, claiming that the cost of tariffs will ultimately be paid by foreign exporters who rely on access to the American economy. However, for small business owners like Wong, this argument falls flat. The administration's pro-growth agenda, which includes tax cuts and deregulation, does little to alleviate the impact of rising prices on small retailers.
In a recent move, the Trump administration announced that it would eliminate tariffs on coffee, bananas, and select textile products from four Latin American countries in an effort to lower prices for American consumers. However, Wong's store is not among those affected, as his products come from different parts of the world.
As the cost of living continues to rise due to tariffs, small business owners like Wong are left to pick up the pieces and wonder how they will survive in a market that seems stacked against them.
John Wong, the co-founder of Wong Kai Imports, is finding it impossible to keep his family's business afloat due to increased prices imposed by President Trump's tariffs. The tariffs have forced Wong to raise prices on goods as much as 35%, making it difficult for him to compete with larger retailers.
Wong, who voted for Trump in 2024, had hoped that the president's policies would lead to lower prices for consumers. However, he now regrets his decision, stating, "Is that American dream? I don't think so." Wong's store has been a staple in the community for over four decades, and its closure would be a devastating blow to the local residents.
Customers are coming out of the woodwork to beg Wong not to shut down his supermarket. Marilyn McKibben, who shops at the store for various Filipino ingredients, said it was convenient and now feels sad about the prospect of losing her go-to grocery store. Wong has received numerous requests from customers pleading with him to keep the store open.
Wong's struggles are compounded by the fact that his products come from countries such as China, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, which are subject to levies imposed by Trump's tariffs. The costs of goods have increased significantly, leaving Wong with no choice but to raise prices or risk losing business.
The White House has defended Trump's tariff policies, claiming that the cost of tariffs will ultimately be paid by foreign exporters who rely on access to the American economy. However, for small business owners like Wong, this argument falls flat. The administration's pro-growth agenda, which includes tax cuts and deregulation, does little to alleviate the impact of rising prices on small retailers.
In a recent move, the Trump administration announced that it would eliminate tariffs on coffee, bananas, and select textile products from four Latin American countries in an effort to lower prices for American consumers. However, Wong's store is not among those affected, as his products come from different parts of the world.
As the cost of living continues to rise due to tariffs, small business owners like Wong are left to pick up the pieces and wonder how they will survive in a market that seems stacked against them.
This is just heartbreaking to hear about John Wong's family-owned grocery store 
. I mean, who wants to raise prices by 35% just because of tariffs? 
It's not like the government is considering the impact on small businesses like this one. I feel bad for Marilyn McKibben and all the other customers who are going to lose their go-to grocery store 
.
I think it's time for a different kind of American dream – one where small businesses like this one can thrive without being crushed by tariffs and rising prices 
. We need to support our local businesses and make sure they have a fighting chance in the market 
.
. Newsflash: small business owners like John Wong are the ones who will ultimately pay the price 
.
I feel bad for John Wong's situation but at the same time, I'm not entirely surprised. His business has been around for decades, so it should've seen some ups and downs. Tariffs are just one of those challenges he now faces. The thing is, I don't think we're doing enough to support small businesses like his 
.
. Small businesses like Wong's are getting squeezed out by bigger retailers and online giants. It's a tough market to be in, but we need more help than just lip service from politicians 
.
. Until then, it's tough to see how he'll survive 
! I cant even believe what's happening to this dude. 35% price hike? That's insane!!! 
The White House keeps saying that the tariffs will be paid by foreign exporters, but let's be real, who does that? Wong is already feeling the heat, and now he's gotta decide between closing up shop or losing everything. This is a total disaster 
This whole tariff situation just feels like another case of bigger businesses getting more benefits at the expense of smaller ones.
Small business owners like Wong are the ones who get hurt the most. They can't just up and move to another country or something. It's gotta be local businesses that suffer when big corporations start profiting from these tariffs 
. I don't think this is what the American dream's all about, you know?
. He voted for Trump expecting lower prices but got the opposite. Now his business is on shaky ground and he's gotta consider closing up shop. That would be a huge loss to the community 
. It's just a shame, you know? 
They're not just affecting the store, but entire families who rely on those jobs 
. The American dream is supposed to mean access to affordable goods, not being priced out by tariffs 
.
. It's not just John's business that's at risk, it's the whole community 
. The White House says the tariffs will be paid by foreign exporters, but what about small business owners like John? 
. Let's hope someone can help John out and find a way to lower those prices! 