A family-run grocery store in Florida may soon close its doors after more than four decades in business, with the owners attributing the struggle to tariffs.
Wong Kai Imports, founded in 1983 by John Wong and his two brothers after their family immigrated from Hong Kong, has been a staple of Manatee County’s local community. The store became a go-to destination for authentic Asian ingredients in an area with few alternatives.
Once a thriving wholesale operation based in Bradenton, Wong Kai Imports was highly profitable for years. About a decade ago, John Wong decided to scale down to focus on his health. Even as a smaller grocery store, it continued to attract loyal customers seeking ramen noodles, sauces, candies, and specialty imports from across Asia — until now.
The challenges began when President Donald Trump’s tariffs took effect, impacting small import businesses nationwide.
Wong, who supported Trump in the previous election, said he had been swayed by campaign promises to reduce grocery costs. Now, facing rising prices and shrinking margins, he admits the reality has been different. Grocery inflation is at a two-year high, and prices continue to climb.
“Virtually all of our products have increased in price since early this year,” Wong told NPR. For example, a box of mabo tofu sauce, a popular Sichuan dish, rose from $2.75 last year to $3.95 at the start of this year. “We just had a shipment come in yesterday — it’s $5. We cannot catch up. Every shipment we get, we have to update the prices,” he said.
Despite the rising costs, Wong has been reluctant to pass the increases onto his customers, many of whom are elderly and living on fixed incomes. “I talk to a lot of customers. They tell me, ‘Mr. Wong, don’t close. Stay open for another three years,’” he said. “I try, but it’s very hard.”
The store’s aisles are filled with imports from China, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines — all regions affected by steep tariff hikes. With proposed tariffs on Chinese goods reaching as high as 145 percent, Wong finds himself caught in the crossfire. About half of his inventory comes from China, making the rising import costs especially challenging.
“Grocery inflation is at a two-year high, and things only seem to be getting worse,” Wong said, reflecting on the uncertain future of his once-thriving store. He recounted one longtime customer, an elderly woman, who has rationed a single can of sardines over several days to make it last.
Since arriving in the U.S. from Hong Kong as a child, Wong has worked tirelessly to build his business and live the American dream. But after decades of dedication, he fears that dream may be slipping away. “Over the past five years, the cost of goods has doubled with no indication of slowing down,” he said. “Is there any future? Is this the American dream?”
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