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Korean immigrant lives American dreamBy MICHAEL HOMANS LYNNWOOD - Chang Moon’s story is one of transition, hard work, good connections and prosperity.The young Korean came to America only four years ago with ffew skills, little money, broken English — and a desire to work hard. Today he owns one of the most reputable drycleaning businesses in Lynnwood, and he’s looking to open another..It’s the American Dream all over again, this time with a Korean twist.“My family likes to work service jobs,” Moon said simply, explaining how he got into the business. He’d never done drycleaning before this job, but when the opportunity came along he grabbed it. And he has excelled.Moon operates his business, Chang’s Cleaners and Tailoring Center, with his sister-in-law Heewon Kim, and a Korean friend who attends the University of Washington.: The small shop is located at the corner of 200th St. S.W. and Itighway 99.Moon bought the shop from an d Korean friend who taught him the ropes of the drycleaning business. He paid for the store ostly with money he earned in rea and brought to America. Moon’s sister-in-law Kim already had experience in cleaning and alterations, and s worked with him from theWhen customers aren’t around,or even when they are, the two chatter back and forth in their native Korean. The banter, the friendly service, and the small size of the shop give it a very authentic mom-and-pop atmosphere.Moon works ten hours a day, six days a week keeping the business up to par.“On Sundays we go to church,” he explained of his one day off.Vacations are also a rarity for the diligent Moon. When asked about them he laughed and said, “I hope I will be able to take one, but I don’t think I’ll have the time.”Moon’s hard work in the three years since he bought the small shop has paid off with a steady increase in business, profits and regular customers.Ron Hoel, of Encore Limousine Service, is one of Moon’s many devout regulars. Hoel brings in his chauffeur’s tuxedos weekly.“I’ve always had good experiences here, ever since it opened three years ago,” Hoel said. “I’ve never been let down once.”Besides the reliability, Hoel said he patronize’s Chang’s “because I like the service, and I like the work, and I like the prices.”Moon blushes, guffaws, and laughs when he hears such praise. He is a modest man, and said he just tries to work hard and do a good job.BUSINESS HASN’T always been so rewarding for Moon, though. He said in the first days of owning the business, he hadIN ONLY his fourth year in America, Korean Chang Moon has established a successful drycleaning business in Lynnwood. And he’s ‘pressing’ to open a second.several problems, communication being the major one.Moon learned to read and write English in junior high school in Korea, but his conversational ability was poor, he said.Today he still speaks in broken sentences, but he communicates without problem.“Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the customers,” Moon said. His major problems come in communicating the type of material or stain to be cleaned, he said.“Sometimes I don’t get the stain out, and then they get angry,” Moon said. But according to mostrare.NOW THAT HIS current business is stable and prospering, Moon, like most entrepreneurs, has bigger and better ideas.“If there’s enough money we will open up another cleaners at some other place,” he said. He’s not sure when he’ll open the new store, but, “I hope soon,” he said.His present store is in an older building, with older machinery, but Moon said even if he gets a new store, he wouldn’t think of selling the original one.“I think I’ll keep it. It’s still
Newspaper Details
Edmonds Enterprise
Edmonds, Washington, US
Wed, Nov 19, 1986
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Everett P.
OR, USA 14 Jan 2025
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