Why So Many Asians Own Laundromats In The US
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- Опубліковано 9 бер 2023
- The Oscar award-winning film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” features a Chinese family-owned laundromat. But the real stories of Asian laundries have largely been invisible.
Beginning with Chinese, and later Korean immigrants, Asians have dominated the industry since the early 1900s, fighting racist laws and language barriers. Today, in the aftermath of COVID, thousands of stores in the industry are struggling.
From New York City to California, here are the stories of survival from Asian family-owned laundries and dry cleaners that serve as staples for their surrounding communities.
#Oscars #EEAAO #MichelleYeoh
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sold the Laundromat for 4000 dollars and kept 2000 dollars at the till for the new owner, the previous owner wasn't in for a profit, a heartwarming story.
Definitely wanted the young couple to do well. If the business were decent, I would love to take over and continue to keep the store as is for the "old man". Too bad most of these old local businesses will close down.
@@LegacyUser3991 and this is a sad man
The new owners won’t do anything like that for anyone
@@LegacyUser3991 you are a heartless person. Before social media people were more real. Plus the old man maybe knew he was ready to retire and help these people alot. I hope one day when you need help no one helps you.
@@LegacyUser3991 as if your life is any real 🙄
The end where the lady states “working hard doesn’t matter for us as long as the next generation can have a good life” is very telling of how most Asian families are. I truly believe this attitude is the reason so many Asian families have turned out successful in America. It’s all about sacrifice.
Yes. I've seen the difference with those guys.
The difference is work ethic. A good life means nothing if the next generation stops working.
@@johnnyjackson4159 No. They have support behind them too.
I've seen them work. Everyone pulls their own equal weight.
Unlike previous jobs I've had. Where some people will try and "get even." Just because I said one small thing that nudged them the wrong way.
Survivor‘s bias. I remember enough lazy bones in my hometown. The Asians you saw overcame difficulties to come to a new country, and most of them are just hardworking.
More like immigrant families. I am not asian but my parents are Latin America immigrants. They will work so much and extra and tell me to do good in school so I can work and live using my brain rather than take toll on my body
The Chinese couple were so kind and adorable. They deserved the help they got. And I deeply admire their work ethic and their dedication to ensure that the next generations of their family enjoy a better life. I truly respect them.
lol. you must be meeting vastly different chinese than those on the west. they are communist agents, that actively report through wechat. Their children are all too eager to join communist movements that they claim their parents escaped from.
An entire population of Asian youth educated within one generation thanks to the hard work ethics of their parents. This is also one reason they didn't mention as to the decline of the laundry business. The children are now white collar workers and unwilling to carry on the family business.
Brings tears in my eyes, watching the earlier generations paving the way for us to have a better life. The sacrifices will be remembered. Thank you
GO BACK TO CHINA YOU INGRATEFULS. WHITE PEOPLE PAVED THIS COUNTRY AND YALL WANT ACCESS TO LEACH OFF THAT SUCCESS. If Chinese are so great, why doesn't world want to live in China?
Be kind to people to matter where & who they are, your kindness will never be forgotten. This couple bring tears to my eyes.
Lies again? Laundry Operator
@butchersfrombeijing I suggest you visit XinJiang , you should change your nick name to Butchers from USA
Beautiful! I'm first generation American. My mom and dad, divorced now worked so hard to give me a better life. Most of that was in poverty but I learned the value of a dollar and they refused to get any government help. Fast forward now. I knew how blessed I was and wanted a better life. Now I'm 28, earn $112k+, and buy them vacations.
respect
THEY REFUSED TO TELL THEIR FAMILY ABOUT GOVT HELP..... big difference. Now go join a communist movement like we all know your children will. Go back to china
Your parents would have been blessed to know that the fruit of their labour of love has borne a bountiful harvest. Good to know you treasure their sacrifices for your future.
Such a beautiful story, be sweeter if they didn't separate. Thank you for your story and best wishes.
Work with computers?
The video doesn't explain that the Chinese were banned from joining trade unions. Therefore, the only thing that was open to them were jobs that were considered menial.
@@el_lo chinese government gives chinese born people a very bad name at this point. Not suprised south east asia is being discriminatory against chinese stuff.
when she cried, I cried. You could tell they went through many hardships in life
The ending. Such powerful words. It made me emotional and cry. I grew up with a filipino mother. Honestly so much similarities.
I don't know how I came across this video, but it was very beautiful to watch 😍 I started tearing up when Judy started crying as she spoke about the old man, so much gratitude. I love seeing the restoration of David's relationship with his father and the unity in the community 🥰 There's a small Dry Cleaners across the street from me run by a lovely Asian couple. Over the years I've watched their 3 children grow up (2 in college now, 1 in high school). The wife shared with me exactly what Judy said at the end. "It doesn't matter how hard they have to work, its about the next generation having education & better opportunities ❤
It's impossible to watch this without tearing up. The struggle, the identity, the accent, the unspoken love, almost every east asian families I know are like them.
OMG SAME
Her gratefulness is overwhelming….she has a soft heart.💝
Oh that last line brought me to tears. What a valuable sentiment for all of us.
The ending made me emotional. Beautiful documentary
wonderful. so seamlessly blending English, Chinese and Korean. this report definitely deserves an award
2:01 I remember back in the days people did this on their own. No clout, just pure intention to help. A legacy lived on through the memory. Remember this moment.
Man this is such a beautiful story, I hope all of the businesses in this video survive and start thriving again with covid starting to die.
Still now. Chinese still have to fight discrimination in America.
Not just Chinese. All Asians.
do a segment about Vietnamese nail salons next :D
The San Toy Laundry couple made me cry hearing them talk about their gratitude and the pain in her voice as she talked about how they over the previous owners business before he passed away and was left with some money that allowed them to survive during those younger years. THEN they showed the community and how delightful they were.
Seriously it's so rare to have struggling people watch out for each other these days.
I love this. I adore and respect the Chinese family owned laundromat where I live. I go every Sunday or Monday to drop off my laundry. But even when I don’t I still go into to say hi.
What a lovely documentary. Amazing work guys.
Who's chopping onions in here?? 😭 I loved this
Please don't blame your emotions on root vegetables.
Very heartwarming story. At least with the younger son taking over for the father you gotta to evolve the business or die seems like they are heading in the right direction. Love the story about the till.
I’ve found these stories so heart warming. ❤
Amazing video. Please continue to tell these amazing stories ❤
Thank you so much for sharing, it's a wonderful story.❤
Watching this from Malaysia has brought me to tears. Parents went through so much so that the next generation can live a much better life.
Such a good story. Well done team!
Fantastic history recap. Very interesting.
Very good documentary!
I wasn't expecting to cry when I clicked on this video.
asian immigrants work so hard and are passionate about what they do
But thats not vey good,thats only puts pressure on the rest of the people!We have to learn to be lazy!
@@brunoheggli2888 A lot of immigrants cannot afford to be lazy because they have to make a living for their families. They should ideally be able to relax, but also coming from experience, many immigrants have a mindset to work hard and provide for their families either in America or their home countries. Not sure what you mean 'putting pressure on the rest'.
@@jellyluver22 I do understand!Putting pressure on the rest means if people work for shitty pay hard then others have to do it to to compeat!Its an American thing!No.Uniions no rights,living to work,instead if working to live!
This was such a beautiful and insightful piece. Thank you so much for sharing! 💛
Thank you for this video
Such heartwarming stories.
This is so reminiscent to our Chinese family’s story in America. I felt all the past hidden shame of having to live in the back of a laundry as a child while all my friends lived in real homes in Boston’s Back Bay. Finally I can feel the pride of having endure the experience! Thank you for bringing these stories to light!
"If it is still working then keep using it." That is what my late grandfather always told me, and for those old stuffs the beautiful couple still keeping reminds me of my late grandfather.
It's very interesting, many thanks for sharing.
The dry cleaning shop that I go to is owned by a Korean family. They’re always kind.
Very inspiring👏
Loved this.
Amazing story 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
This was so good.
I'm not really the type of person to say this, but the father/son story at 5:54 is wonderful.
Yo I went to aus for study. 1st day came there. Both Asian and westerners are really helpful. Helping me with anything. 1 particular Asian man, said he was immigrant himself, even if I said Im okay, he gave me Aus plug, said I might need it soon. Wonder how he's been now
Such a heartwarming video
great video ✊🏾 wish it got more eyes
“In another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.”
Very exciting human record. Grateful.
A1 !!!! Keep the good job 👍 that was the highlight of my day
Grand mom once told me , when the inter-continental railroad was finished. Chinese laborers were only given a free train ticket to California, since there were no other jobs available and not enough money to go home. A kind Christian church suggested that they did their laundry and that's how the first Chinese laundry started in America.
in San Francisco maybe?
That’s why The French Laundry is named as such…to distinguish it from Chinese or Asian-owned laundry places at the time
Dang, so deeply racist I swear. The US is another planet.
@@orwellianyoutube8978 normal shit, happens in europe
@@orwellianyoutube8978 bruh that's like the 1800s
Amazing upload.
5:19 That's not New York City. It's 133 Waverly Place in San Francisco's Chinatown.
5:23 Waverly Place between Clay and Sacramento in San Francisco.
5:24 Portsmouth Square in San Francisco.
I didn't pay attention to the time stamp and what was actually said but the video intro did say they were interviewing people across America
All most cried when you did, great article.
A good laundrette is a real benefit to any neighbourhood, so important 👌
There is something nostalgic about an old couple talking about their lives, like that, I used to work as a net fisherman here in Romania Constanta at one point in time, and there this old sea dog, a WW II veteran turned fishing ship captain, that owned this very old school wooden diesel engine ship, like old 1900 yearly, and he used to talk about his time netting and how much fish he would catch, he really hated the government, commie bastards for putting him under arrest for "illicit activity", yeah fishing for your family is a crime, the guy took us on the old wreck out in 2006 for one last ride, he passed away in 2010, boat was bought by some yacht guy,
Absolutely incredible people!!!❤
The san toy couple had such a beautiful story, god bless them.
not me crying
The Asian run laundromat is the BEST in my AREA
Their kids better realise how lucky they are to have a better life because of their parents
I don’t want to ruin the mood, but the irony is that with all the hard work and the money they spent to come to the US, their life could have been much better when they had stayed in Korea and China when you think about how the two countries got richer in the last three decades.
@@parkkimlee1760 anywhere but the usa is an ideal place to live lol
Unfortunately many don't! I can speak since I'm Mexican with very similar upbringings and neighborhoods. I'm the only one of many many cousins to go to college. Many of them struggle. Meanwhile at 28 i earn $112k+. I knew how blessed I was and pay my parents back with vacations. It's unfortunate.
Nah. It's better to not force expectations onto kids like that and act like they are owed for life. That's not good parenting if you set that expectation. I hope you realize that's such a damaging pov
Wow, such a beautiful story!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Excellent
This was great, but if we're also talking about laundrettes, as some are shown, where's the laundrette and the cleaner/tailor shop next to it on 10th and Oak (Oakland) that went under during Covid? No pictures when it touches on Asian neighbourhoods being hacked away at?
Thanks for sharing this..I'd sure like to learn more about these situations.
wow what a great story. A lot of lessons here.
These were the jobs American did not want, high labor with small profit, in addition to operating LAUNDROMAT, they are also operating small GROCERY, they usually live in the back of the stores.
This goes the same for RESTAURANT.
It also takes some diligence to maintain a Laundromat too. Broken machines, litter, graffiti, etc.
The fact that they can still keep it going tells you something.
Aww this is so emotional
Came to watch leaving crying
I’m so sad cause my grandparents also immigrated from China but to Southeast Asia. Without as much discrimination, Chinese in Southeast Asia dominant the economic today. Imagine what their life would be if they have gone to a country that won’t discriminated them like that. Or if the US never discriminated them like that. … 😢
Chinese Americans and other asian American groups are actually one of the most successful groups in America even outpacing whites
Reading your English makes me dizzy
indonesia or malaysia ?
@@el_lo Singapore
9:41 that is true sacrifice for the children very deep, big love!
Australia too [along with corner shops for newspapers]
This video is way more than a laundromat
loved it
I love that you’re expanding into shoes!
I am surprised to see all Asian parents are alike no matter which country they're from happy &satisfied if younger generation is educated married and settled ❤
that’s why i love asians for their consistency & n hard working ❤ peace from kenya 🇰🇪
It's always the people who have little that help those who have even less. It's extremely rare for wealthy people to help in this way without getting something out of it like tax credits or virtue signaling on social media on how they "helped".
While its true some just use it for clout, publicizing help isnt really a bad thing, especially when youre trying to ask for more funding to keep the charity going. I feel like people fail to understand the very basic concept of,it takes money to keep these programs/charities going. A good example is beast philanthropy.
@Terra Guttierez I definitely agree with you on the part that altruistic deeds can reach a social contagion by posting on social media, and that's always a great thing! I was more so referring to those who only help for likes and exploitation.
@@Cyanide999 ok but its hard to distinguish someone trying to get likes just for likes and someone getting attention for a cause. So like with mr beast, hes definitely trying to get views and likes for his videos, at the same time getting help through that. When both are tied together there are people who think hes in it just for clout and people who think differently. Which one is right? The youtube crowd is pretty much divided.
These comments were just as heartwarming as the video!
Young’s is the cleaners I grew up going to really nice people glad y’all shed some light on them
I loved everything everywhere all at once!!
From Oakland “Hey David”
I want David to know that in addition to shoes, there is also a market for professional designer handbag cleaning! Especially in NYC
Foreigners also get tax breaks that are not available to Americans.
Well done
Thank you
Who's cutting onions
link to the reporter please? nice production which gives a reality look behind that movie. My parents, dreaming of a large laundromat in LA.
I hope after this video, some people appreciate their local laundromats and support these businesses.
Just support all local businesses period!
they're not truly a laundromat though. They're a dry cleaning service which is the problem. Less people formerly get their suits dry cleaned. It's not cheap and those that can afford it usually these days go to a nice looking place that markets to the the more business oriented gentleman. That's why they mentioned casual wear being so prominent.
Ironically, in some countries laundry businesses are starting to grow.
"For next generation to have a good future is enough to make us happy" This is so true for first generation Asian immigrants.
“I believe it’s important to stay connected to the world while also remaining connected to your local community.”- Fanie van der Merwe
“Longevity means making an effort day after day, and the accumulation of that effort becomes longevity, which will eventually become tradition.”- Houshi Zengoro, Owner
0:26. That’s at 14th Street, Oakland CA. Across from McDonald’s!
I'm from Fujian so I relate to their stories a lot.
asians work so hard they like us mexicans
Mexicans works harder than us Asians tbh😂
Yes working so hard for shit money to make others rich!No progress at all!
That's what films can do. An eye opener for unsung heroes.
Next video do what's dominating jails and jdc's.
The authenticity, I love it
There is an Asian American success story in and around Savannah Georgia a man named Mr. Chu, open the gas station that became an empire. On Tybee Island on and around savanna you don’t say you’re going to the 7-Eleven you’re going to Chus
T.S. Chu Department Store?
I know of Greek pizza parlor owners who buy their storefronts and everything above them. In fact , some will buy the stores in their blocks to prevent competitors from getting their pizza parlors into the area.
Why can’t Asians buy the real estate their store is at ?
Well done Ms. Kook for speaking Mandarin! ❤❤
Isn't she speaking Cantonese? Could be wrong, tho.
@@azmodanpc Judy and Michael Huang are definitely Mandarin speakers, not Cantonese.
Just like this story. The British curry industry is going through a lot of challenges. Mainly known as Indian but owned and managed by Bangladeshis immigrants community has been part of the UK life. The chicken tikka massala was voted Britains favourite dish. I think A+J should do a documentary on this. My family used to own a restaurant once but no 😢