Today we’d like to introduce you to Vu Ly
Hi Vu, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It all came about once the pandemic hit and everyone was doing online “happy hours” via zoom or FaceTime with each other. Kimberly Le, Tran Loh, Nancy Lee, Elaynne Ly, and I (college friends from UTA) were discussing how Southeast and East Asian owned restaurants were being affected due to the xenophobia towards us from the media. Businesses were being affected, not just because of the virus and the social distancing, but also from the public having fear they will contract the virus from Southeast and East Asians.
An idea came up to create a Facebook group highlighting locally owned restaurants and to ensure the public is safe from coming to these establishments. We all just started inviting friends and family, and then it became a domino effect where those started inviting their friends and family. Now here we are, 6 years later with 65,000 members with 5,000+ still pending for approval.
The group not only helps local restaurants promote themselves and be known to the public but also helps those that aren’t familiar with social media and have no way of getting their name out to the public. Everyday members are posting about their favorite restaurants; old and new and also asking for suggestions.
We have also thrown two food festivals with the help of our friends at Krio which is now Sportsbook in Bishop Arts. We will be throwing our 3rd annual one this upcoming month for AAPI Month.
For anyone who has yet to join the group and would like to, just search “Asian Grub in DFDUB (DFW)”. Answer the questions correctly, and you will be accepted in the group immediately.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We do not want to be another Yelp. So we don’t allow any bashing of any restaurants whatsoever. Positive posts only. We try to remind members that it is ok if you didn’t enjoy a restaurant but it doesn’t mean you need to post it. Just because you didn’t enjoy it, doesn’t mean another person won’t enjoy it. Everyone has different taste buds. Your bad experience shouldn’t deter someone else from wanting to try it and come up with their own assessment on it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ampersand/Socium Project?
I am a sales representative in the wine division for Republic National Distributing Company visiting accounts within the metroplex.
I am also a partner of Ampersand. We are a coffee & tea shop. We have 3 locations, two in Fort Worth (1 off Bledsoe in the 7th St area and 1 directly across from TCU), and one in DFW Airport Gate C37.
I’ve also been in the nightlife industry for about 20 years, so from time to time my business partner, Michael Ferrari Le, and I will throw events in Dallas and Fort Worth and also expanding outside of DFW and Texas through our group called Socium Project.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Everyone will always hit good and bad luck whether it’s in life or business, but the hard work put in will always be the backbone of success in life and business.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asiangrubdfw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14xqbKepKW/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/vubus/
