A Coffee with Amy Quon from The Lingnan Restaurant

Join us for a coffee and chat with Amy Quon, owner and operator of the famous Chicken for Lunch in downtown Edmonton and the CEO of the oldest Chinese food restaurant in Edmonton, The Lingnan!
Tune in to hear Amy's inspirational story of hard work, family, and the key to loyal and returning customers for over thirty-plus years! Amy is a legend in the City of Edmonton and is well known for her infectious personality and humility.
Did you know she had two television shows as well?  You won't want to miss this amazing story behind the story!

Transcript

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Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome to another edition of the ABA Coffee In The Park. My name is Cam Milliken, and I'm here with my co-host extraordinaire, the executive director of the Acheson Business Association, Jennifer Herrick. Hello, Jennifer. Hi, Cam, how are you today? I'm doing great, Jennifer. I am doing really good. Little cooler today, but you know what? It's fall, winter's coming, it's awesome. How are you doing? I'm doing good as well. It is a beautiful Tuesday morning, and I'm excited for this podcast today. Me too. I am very excited about this one. We have a special guest who we'll get to in just a moment or two. But Jennifer, anything you need to tell us about some important people? We would like to thank our gold corporate sponsors, which include the MyShak Group of Companies, Genics and Parkland County. We would like to thank these businesses for all that they do for the Acheson Business Association. Yes, because without them, we would not be able to do what we do. And so thank you very much for helping us. Hey, we have kind of a new segment, Jennifer, and it's called fan mail. And so we're going to read some fan mail. And thank you for sending it in. So Jennifer, why don't you go first and read a letter that you were sent? Well, this is great. We've been receiving all kinds of wonderful feedback on the podcast. So thank you for everybody for taking the time to send that in to us. So like Cam said, this is a new segment that we're going to incorporate. And we just want to share a little bit of the information and fan mail that we've received so far. So Cam, I got an email saying, Hello Jennifer and Cam, I'm a faithful listener to your podcast and wanted to let you know that I really enjoy the stories of the people you've interviewed. I find them encouraging, informative and interesting. You're both excellent hosts and very natural. You must have been doing this together for a long time. I look forward to Thursday's, Keep Up The Good Work from Todd in Edmonton. Ah, thank you Todd, that's awesome. And so Jennifer, I received an email and this is what it says, I'm so happy that my daughter recommended that I listen to your podcast. Listening to your guests share their stories has been amazing. And I look forward to the new episode that comes out every Thursday. The two of you are amazing co-hosts and I can feel how you've put the guests you interview at ease. Keep it up. PS. I stopped by The Wall Coffee Roaster in beautiful downtown Acheson and it did not disappoint. That comes from Susan in Edmonton. Thank you, Susan. Thank you, Susan. Yeah. And we really appreciate all of those kind letters and emails and notes like that. And yeah, if you have any suggestions, hey, drop us a note and let us know. It's great that somebody actually went to The Wall Coffee Roasters, too. I know. Oh, and so hey, in beautiful downtown Acheson, The Wall Coffee Roasters is a great place to hang out. It sure is. So today, we actually are not broadcasting from The Wall Coffee Roasters. We are not. We have gone rogue again, and we are remote on a different location. Cam, tell us where we are. Well, we are at one of my favorite places in the entire city of Edmonton. We are sitting right now in the dining room of the oldest Chinese restaurant in Edmonton, The Lingnan. Classic. The Lingnan. For anybody in Edmonton, you know this spot. I agree. Best Chinese food around. No doubt. It's amazing. And this is a beautiful restaurant and a great place to podcast. And we are here for a very specific reason today, Jennifer. So why don't you go ahead and interview, introduce our guest for us today? So our guest today is Amy Quon. And for anybody in Edmonton, you will know Amy as the owner operator of Chicken for Lunch, Cam. That's right. The famous Chicken for Lunch in downtown Edmonton. That's right. Sadly, Chicken for Lunch is no longer, but it was there for over 30 years. And if you were in the downtown core, you went to Chicken for Lunch and you stood in line because it was worth it. That's right. If you worked downtown, you had Chicken for Lunch. Chicken for Lunch. And so introduce our guest to us today. And now you will find Amy at her family restaurant, The Lingnan, which has been an Edmonton icon for 75 years. 75 years. So welcome Amy. Amy, good to have you. Well, thank you very much for inviting me. It's just an honor to be on with you. Thank you. Well, thank you. It's our pleasure. So Amy, let's kick it off. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Oh, I was born in Hong Kong and I also make in Hong Kong. And I've been in Hong Kong for more than, for about 20 years. So you were born in Hong Kong and you were made in Hong Kong. Okay, so made in Hong Kong. That's very important, yes. Yes, because everybody say make in China, but I'm special one. Made in Hong Kong, that's right, yeah. And after I graduated from high school, I worked as elementary school for two years. The principal like me so much, he offered me a job as a principal. Wow. Yeah. So you worked there two years. Yes. You did such an awesome job. Yes. He said, do you want to be principal? Yes, but I need a degree. So that's reason why I have come to Edmonton, Concordia College for the study. Okay. Yes. And then I met my husband, Kinman. And by that time, I'm a newcomer, so he always bring me around, show me around the city. Okay. Yeah. You need to tell us this story about Kinman because that's a very interesting story, you and Kinman. Yes. But you know, by that time, he had the girlfriends in Hong Kong. But all his uncle and his parents persuade him that Amy is the better choice, with a pair of attractive eyes and nice and pleasant. Okay. So wait, so Kinman already had a girlfriend, and all of a sudden, Amy comes into the picture, and they wanted you to marry Kinman. Yes. But Kinman said, no, I'm not his cup of tea. Oh, Amy. Yeah. Because he said, I talk too much. Okay. And also I'm too choppy. But anyway, by that time, I'm not choppy. Only 125. But he said, I'm too choppy. Okay. Okay. That's all his excuse. Yeah. So that's okay. So we just, you know, for me, I just friends, right? Yeah. Once in a while, we see him. He showed me the place of Edmonton. But for a while, he suddenly showed up at my school, at my school door during my coffee time and lunch time. So he just showed up. He just showed up. Yeah. Waiting for me. Waiting. Waiting, waiting. And then he take me out for lunch. And even though he picked me from the bus stop, he picked me from the bus stop. I still remember, it's so funny by that time. And followed me everywhere. So were you beginning to think that maybe there was something more happening here? Oh, he tell me he got time in the morning because he only work in the evening. Because the weather is cold. So I said, that's okay. So, okay, that's okay. But he never left me alone. Okay. So after later on, so I have to extend my student visa. Because we have to extend student visa. Yes. Yeah. And we have to go to see a lawyer to extend the visa. Right. And his cousins, because all his cousin, his friend, relative like me so much, he suggested to get married. Okay. And I told Kinman, I can't because I have to finish my degree. Right. Okay. But Kinman said, don't worry, I can support you. You don't need a degree. Even you finish school, you still have to be at home. Right. Okay. So I said, oh, that will be great. This guy must be rich. Have a nice big restaurant. You know, so I said, oh, that's great. Okay. So I just said, okay, I do. And that's the reason why we get married so rush in spring break. Oh, so it was easier to get married than get a student visa. Exactly. Okay. Yeah. Okay. That makes sense. It does make sense. For all of you, no, I'm not even going to suggest it. But yeah, okay. And also by that time, remember, I said, I got a rich man. Rich man. Right. I don't have to work. This exactly is, I don't have to work. I still remember. Okay? Yeah. So after that, we get married. And then we have three children. I didn't work at all. I have three children. I got Miles, I got Mandy, and then I have Marty. Right. Okay. By Miles, six years old, my mom was in Canada now, so she can babysit me. So I got lots of time. Okay. But I cannot come to the Lingnan to work. Because Kinman, by that time, is a partnership. He said no women involved. No women? No women at all. At the Lingnan? At Lingnan. Wow. No women. Okay. Even the staff, all men. All men. Really? All men. Okay. They are all, they are all, you know, stubborn, traditional Chinese. Okay? So that's okay. So after that, I got my first job. I remember I worked in my neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Oh, so a different restaurant, not the Lingnan? No, no. A different one. I got close to my house. The competitor. The competition. But I didn't tell them. I own a Lingnan. Because they said, how come you know the big Chinese will come to work for me? Are you the spy? So I never tell. I never tell. I never tell that I own the Lingnan. Okay. Sorry, I didn't own the Lingnan. I didn't own the Lingnan. But you didn't tell them your husband owned the Lingnan. That's right. Yes. I didn't mention. Okay. Not mentioned at all. So after for a while, a friend of mine strongly recommend me to work at the Salvation Army. Because Salvation Army, by that time, they need a lady can speak bilingual. Right. Because they're around Chinatown. So they need somebody can speak Chinese, can help people out. Right. So I said, okay, that will be good. So I go to work there. But I'm so lucky. Just for a year, you know what? I'm store manager already. Oh, wow. You moved up the ladder quick. Wow. People like me. Yeah. The point is people like me. Right. So after that, at the Salvation Army, and somebody is a customer from Salvation Army. He said, Amy, you work so hard. You are so great. Why don't you think about, she's working in the Norwood Extend Care. So she even brought me the form to fill up. And then she even offered me to take me to interview. So I interview in the Norwood Extend Care. Okay. There, I just work. First, I work as on-call dietary aid. That means in the morning, deliver breakfast, lunch to the residents. Yeah. Okay. But after that, they said I work, they like me too. So what happened is they offer me as a assistant cook. They train me. Okay. That is a good opportunity. That's the reason why I learned lots of recipes, the Canadian recipe. I know how to do the kitchen work, the hygiene, everything. Okay. So you became a cook at the Norwood Extended Care. Not the cook. Assistant cook. Assistant cook. Assistant cook. Right. Right. Okay. But what happened by that time, I'm on call, so they always call me in the morning. Like 5 o'clock, they call you, hey, come to work, Amy. I always go. So my kid one time, Miles, told me, Mom, I don't like every morning when we get up. They only see a lunchbox on the table. So they don't want it. No mom, just the lunchbox. No mom, just the lunchbox. And he didn't like that. He didn't like that. No. And at the same time, when at home, I always pick them up at the school, right? Okay. So Kinman is the one to pick them up at the school. But Kinman is always late. Okay? Right now, he's still always late. Still always late. Still always late. Yeah, yeah, okay. He's so late that when we work chicken for lunch, I fire him. Oh, that's great. So he, when the three kids walked from school to home, he's still in bed. He's still, so he forgot to pick them up. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So because all this reason, I think about, oh, I should change the job. So why I think about, I should get a job that only work in the morning. From nine, drop off the kid, nine to two. Right. So that time for school drop. Yeah. Perfect. Yes. This is my plan. Okay. So I see there's the opening in the food court, or office building. So that will be good opportunity. Right? Yeah. But Kinman not agree, because the business there is really slow. Right. So Kinman always say, Amy, you just use the money to buy the job. So buy the business. No, I buy the business, but what happened is I can work, but Kinman said I use the money to buy the job. Oh, you use the money. Use the money to buy the job. Okay, this is how we started. I tell you make a job for yourself. You just buy the business. Yeah. Buy the business. Okay. So I buy the, this is the 1992. But when I worked there very slow, I still remember, I go there at night, around night, I go there by bus. Because I never go there by bus, parking is very hard. Right. So by night, then I finish about two or three. That's okay. But later on, I got more recipe. I'm thinking about, okay, before it's not Chicken For Lunch. Because it's got chicken variety. Okay. There's two chicken variety in Edmonton. Right now, still got one in Canada place. The people, we're getting more popular. The people call, they said that we order ready. They said nothing, we never get your order. Wrong one. They were calling the wrong one. Yeah. So after that, we change our name. So what is the name, right? I only sell chicken, different kind of chicken. Right. So Kinman asked me one day, what do you like for lunch? I said chicken. So we got chicken for lunch. Chicken for lunch. What a way to make the name. It's perfect. Chicken for lunch. That's right. Yes. And after I work chicken for lunch, the business is getting popular. Yeah. The reason why they know I got relationship with Lingnan, because some people saw my face and they have the confidence on me. Right. So this is a good benefit. Yeah. Okay. So after that, I work hard, I got new lots of recipe, and I'm nice and kind to the people. And I'm generous to the people too. So lots of food. Lots of food. Yeah. Lots of, you know, so funny. I always give people extra, extra, extra food. I know that every time I talk to people who went to chicken for lunch, they always say you gave them extra, lots of extra food. Yeah. But this is how to show the appreciation to the customer line up. So Kinman talked to me beside, Amy, you watch, you watch your portion. Every portion, each lunch box, you lost this excited, you lost 30 cents. Okay? You watch, you watch. I cannot say it. I said, Kinman, take a holiday in the office. Okay? I pay you back. After lunch, I pay you back. And after that, I said, 30 cents, right, for lunch box I lost, but can make me happy. It worth it. Exactly. And your customers are happy. And your customers are happy. Yeah. That is funny, right? Yeah. Okay. So after that, I worked there for 32 years. 32 years. And after that, my lease up. Right. My lease up. Just, you know, like 30 years, my lease up. And I'm getting a little bit older. Right. Though I don't want to be continued anymore because Kinman said, Kinman always said, you don't have to work. You don't have to work. I can support you. He told you that when you got married. You didn't have to work. Yeah, that's right. Right now, he still say, you don't have to work. I support you. Yeah. But after that, so I'm just joking, okay? By that time, people interview from the radio. Yeah. Now, let's talk about that for a minute. Because when you decided to close down Chicken For Lunch, when the word got out that you were closing down, all of a sudden, the lineups were huge. You know what? People line up for two and a half hours. Two and a half hours. For the last couple days. Yes. I'm so impressed. I'm overwhelmed. And then I don't know how to say thank you. Right. And then all the media came. The television came. It was a big deal. It was a big deal in Edmonton. In the whole week. You know what? I'm more even popular than the mayor. By that we own it. By that we own it. Okay? If you're interested, I know anyway. I won't go down that road. Yes. Exactly. And then people are very concerned. How can I close? Everyone asks, Amy, where are you going? Are you going to open a store? Where? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. Everybody asks. And then I just, you know, I just, I said, no, I'm not working at other place. I got a job offer already. Even a bigger position. I'm the CEO of The Lingnan. The CEO of The Lingnan. From chicken to lunch to the CEO of The Lingnan. That's right. Wow. That's a promotion. But you know what? I got in trouble after that. Because? Because. And then my son, you know, sometimes the people have to complain or something to deal with, wherever. Miles, my son. I was like, mom, you're the CEO. You deal with it. You deal with it. So you deal with the issues. Yes. I deal with it. So all the problems now, you have to deal with them. Yes. I deal with it. Yeah. Like people come late. Yeah. Like the staff come late. Or wherever I have to talk to the deal with the staff and then deal with the customer. That's not easy. And because I'm the CEO, but I don't get paid. The CEO is working for free. Yeah. I don't know if you had a good agent on that one, signing your deal for you. Because you work hard. Yeah. You do work hard, Amy. You work hard. I work really hard. Okay. So now you're the CEO of The Lingnan. Yes. But I work harder than the boss. Yes. Than Kinman. Yeah. Than Kinman and my son. Yeah. I spend more hours here. Right. Right. I usually, my restaurant opened at like five. I come here already, one-thirty already. Right. I come here because I have to take the phone call, the online, check the online, everything, and I have to pick up the staff to work. Okay. Let's talk about that for a minute. That is amazing. So for all of our listeners, you want to hear about employee-employer relationships and how to build a culture. Amy, tell us, you pick up, and not only pick up your staff, you wait for them and take them home. Yes. I pick them up from the home. Yes. Okay. Right now, I only pick one on the way. Some people, I even give some money to another staff, but I tell him, don't tell, because it don't feel bad, right? Yeah. To take the other staff. Those people don't have car. And after, but every night, I wait for them finish until 10 o'clock. I'm the last one and take them back home. And then you drive them home? I drive them home. My goodness. That's amazing. That's absolutely, I don't know of too many bosses or CEOs. I don't think there's any CEOs doing this. No, I don't think there's any CEOs that would do that. That's amazing to me. Wow. Yes, but they appreciate them. Who is the longest staff member, the person who's been here the longest? How long? Okay, the one, you know, talk about one before first. One before, my longest, the staff, is the cook, the chef. Number one chef, he worked for me 45 years. 45 years. Wow. When we do the TV show, we even brought him together to China. Right, right. And we'll talk about the show in a minute. So 45 years. Yes. But right now, I got another one, the driver, worked here for 45 years too. 45 years. Yes, 45 years. That is unbelievable. It's unheard of actually. It really is. I mean, you know, Amy, I've been coming to the restaurant since I was about six or seven years old. And I remember, and then I moved away for a while, and every time we came back, we came to The Lingnan, and I see the same waiters all the time, all the time. Very, very people who have just been here forever, like forever. You know what, I got a waiter, and he's been working for me for 32 years too. That's incredible. But he still come and help us out one day. Okay. One day, but in case we need him, he come again. Right. So he's, everybody just treat it as a family. Right. You know, just family. Yeah, so what is the key to your success in keeping people for so long? Why do they stay? You know, the first, I always generous to them. I care. That is very important. You care the people and kind to the people and also give them compliment. Right. Now, when they do a good job, I always compliment them and highlight. Yes. And every time, oh, you are so smart. You do a good job. Okay, I buy you some to treat. When I treat, the whole restaurant go treat. All the staff go treat. That's why every day we have to treat. Because so many staff, right? Yeah. So I say, oh, because you do a good job. That's the reason why. And also, always Google Review. We got lots of nice Google Reviews. So you've had customers who like me, who have come for, well, I bet there's some who have been here for 75 years. Yes. I got some customer comes before long time. The Lingnan started in 1947. Right. And it was before this is the Canada place there. Yeah. They've been coming there. Right now, they're 103 years old. Just had the birthday here. Yes. Wow. Yes. You know, they are, but they are just remember Lingnan. Yes. So so appreciate, you know, they, they, they even, even they do a life celebration here. Yeah. Well, my mother, 93 years old, she remembers coming when, when you were just opened, like just in the other location there. She remembers that. So that's how long people have been coming to The Lingnan. Yes. It's incredible. Yeah. We've been serving the right now. We are third generation. Incredible. The beings before it started with the Kinmans, uncles and dad. And after the Kinmans is second generation. And right now, Miles and my kid, the third generation. But we've been serving the fourth generation now. Wow. Incredible. That's amazing, Amy. It is. It's absolutely incredible. And you are so popular and so well known. Let's back it up. And because you did mention it, let's talk about that TV show. Yes. The TV, The Quon Dynasty. The Quon Dynasty. Yes. You know what? We have the two TV shows. Okay. First one, we are on the Food Network first. Oh, Food Network. Okay. On the Food Network first. Bobby Flay and all of them. Yeah. We've been on the Food Network. And after that, we are really, really, you know, like a very happy, everybody like it so much. So and then we go to the City TV. That is, we make the Quon Dynasty. Right. For 13 episodes. Okay. So for the Quon, those two, you know, like TV show bring us, we getting out of the window, right? So we got more famous, more popular because of two TV show. Yeah. Some people, I remember when it's airing, like the Food Network the first time, people line up at my Chicken For Lunch to see how they do the show, you know, like. Yeah. Because you're a TV star now. Yes. Yes. You know. They want to come see you. Yeah. They come and see me. And also they come all different part of the city come and see me. Yeah. And after that, we do the Quon Dynasty. It's really popular. I still remember, get back to long time already, the Quon Dynasty about 12 years ago. This summer, some people come from Shanghai. I'm so surprised. He watched me on Shanghai. How can you watch me on Shanghai? Yeah. They said that they want to come for long, long time. The episode that really impressed they to come and see me because my birthday. Everybody forget my birthday. So they talk about it. Right. The reason why, because they do, we do the Chinese version. They sell all over the world. Like we've been in Mexico, Italy, Philippines, all over. So the people from China, they watch us because we are the first Chinese to do the, in Northern America, do the show. So they come here to see me. So I bet if you Google, if you're listening to us and you're, I'd like to watch that. I bet if you Googled Quon Dynasty, you'd find it somewhere on the Internet for sure. It would be there. Amy, that was on city TV back in the day. Yes. Right now, they can find us too. Because these two TV show, people know me more. That's reason why they know how hardworking I am. In the small Chicken For Lunch, at the Scopus Play before. And, you know, and all those, they nominate me as the Woman of Vision in 2013 to 2014. Wow. Wow. Yes. But I'm so impressed that is, you know what? I'm very little. I'm very little start because by 10 women, they are so, they are so cateable. They can manage a big company. Billion dollar and then they are the top of the judge, provincial judge. They are very popular. They do so much, you know, as compared to me. I'm the most little small star. But you know what? I shine bright. Yes, you do. You do shine bright. And Amy, you shine bright because I don't know how you do it, but you remember customers and you remember their orders. Yes. I think that is just amazing. I agree. I've never seen anybody. And I've been here a lot. I've been around you a lot. You remember their name. You remember what they like. And everyone walks out of here feeling so special. You know how come? Because I care. Yeah. The most important thing is I care. When you care people, then you put everything. Yeah. You know, like one time, the most funny thing is I cannot remember what my my children like. Okay. I, you know, I have the nap. You know, it's not easy. When you think about it's not easy. Yeah. It's not easy at all. So I cut the chicken before. Right now, the chicken all cut for a long time. Long, long time ago, I didn't cut the chicken. We have to buy the chicken and take off the skin. Right. Miles is very good boy. He always help me. So funny, he said, Mom, why don't school have the talent show? They don't have to rip off the skin to show. Very nice. And also one time, you know, I'm so tired. I have to cut the chicken. I want, I fall asleep. So I sit on my couch. I didn't wash my hand. You know how come? I put my hand up. So I keep in mind, I can only have five minute nap. That's the truth. I said, because I wash my hand, come on the boat. Then I fall, then I can sleep, right? Five minute. I said, talk to myself. Five minute on the couch. Put my hand up and remember. And then sometimes in the middle of the light, so funny too. I still got, oh, chicken burger, chicken burger. So that means when you care, I care about my business, I care about my customer, the care is very important. Yeah. I think Amy, you are the perfect example of customer 101. Any business could learn from you in terms of how to treat and care for their customers. You are unbelievable. You are. I think it's a bit of a lost art today. And Amy, you do a great job. So that actually segments really well into our last question, Amy. What's the best piece of advice you've been given, either personally or professionally, that you carry with you to this day? You know what? I really want to tell, hard working is very important and caring and generous. But like me, I'm second language is English. So sometimes I stop it by my second language. I don't can not express myself, but don't worry. Just go ahead. People can feel it. People can understand. Yeah. You know, even my Chinese, my kid don't understand. I talk to my kid, Chinese, tell Kinman in Chinese, they don't understand. They don't do whatever I want them to do. Even Chinese, not even English. So second language is not a barrier. Right. Second language, just work hard and always caring, generous and always see the people, the good point. Yeah. The highlight people. Yeah. Highlight people, give people compliment. Yeah. So that is how I, you know. Well, Amy, I don't think there could be better advice. No. And this podcast has been, for me, a true honor to get to sit across from you and to hear your story. And just meeting you, you are absolutely fantastic. Yeah, you are. And Amy, you're very special to me and to my family. And so if you're listening to us today and you live in Edmonton or the area, you've never been to The Lingnan. They are located at? 105, 82, 104 Street, just the back of the Roger Place. That's right. And so, and you can go to www.lingnan.com. Yes. And they're there. And I would advise, make a reservation. Make a reservation. I agree. Because it's always busy and you will have some of the best Chinese food you have ever had. So Amy, thank you so much. This has been such an honor. We really appreciate it. Thank you very much. If people hear this podcast, and then really want to meet me, because right now, I'm in the kitchen now, sometime come out. So please let me know, because your support will cheer me up. Right. So maybe come and say, hey, I heard Amy's podcast. I'd like to meet her. Yeah, and the waiter will come back and maybe get you. And if you have a free moment, you'll come on out. And listen, tell everybody about The Lingnan. So thank you everybody for listening. We really appreciate it. And hey, we'll see you next week. Thanks everyone. See you next week. Wherever you get your podcasts, or you can go to www.Achesonbusiness.com and download us. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your business associates, tell your enemies. If you don't have any friends, make a friend to tell them about the podcast. And thanks everybody. We'll see you next week. Thanks everyone.