Pho Corner owners Toan Nguyen and Phillip Allen found themselves halting construction on their almost finished restaurant when the coronavirus pandemic broke out to give away free food to those in need. Toan and Phillip found volunteers and donors and started packing 400+ bags that consisted of a loaf of bread, a pound of ham, sliced cheese, and oranges. Their attitude was, “Our business is going to rely on the community, and we’re not going to wait until they give to us so we can give back, . . . we have the ability to order groceries. . ., we have access to things people are running out of in grocery stores,” Allen said. They also provided MSU students stuck on campus with breakfast for a week. This continued for weeks to approximately 3,000 bags of free groceries valued at over $17,000. Pho Corner got its start when another restaurant closed. Toan Nguyen purchased and remodeled the restaurant and retained the staff for his business. Toan’s dad is also an entrepreneur. Pho Corner only adds to the collection of business ventures, especially for Toan, such as Kung Fu Kitchen, Tours Les Jours, Kung Fu Tea, and soon to open is Paris Beauty iLounge. Given all their experience, they didn’t need the typical start-up coaching; however, they have touched base with the SBDC with most of their ventures. The SBDC assisted in educating the owners regarding business formations and business plan explanation, kept them updated during the pandemic about assistance programs, and provided industry reports and trends. With a solid online presence and positive reviews, Pho Corner is a strong competitor in the restaurant industry in Wichita Falls.
