Lee’s Noodle House, a Vietnamese restaurant in Santa Rosa, California, has faced numerous challenges since it opened in 2003. From natural disasters to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family-owned business struggled to attract customers and stay afloat. Amid all the difficulties, college student Jennifer Le decided to use social media to help her parents’ restaurant.
The Power Of Social Media
Jennifer turned to TikTok, posting a candid video showing her father, Vuong Le, in an empty restaurant, waiting for customers. The video captioned “TikTok do your thing and help support my parents’ Vietnamese restaurant,” quickly went viral. The heartfelt plea resonated with viewers, garnering over 1.4 million views and hundreds of thousands of likes.
“It makes me so sad to see my parents just wait for customers to walk through their door,” Jennifer’s on-screen text read. Her goal was to raise awareness about the restaurant and attract new customers. The strategy worked, bringing a flood of patrons eager to try the family’s homemade Vietnamese cuisine.
Overwhelming Response
Jennifer’s video rapidly gained traction, leading to a surge in business for Lee’s Noodle House. “Once it hit 3000,000 likes, that’s when all the comments started flooding in,” she recalled. Her father was both shocked and excited by the influx of orders. “Oh my gosh, now we’re getting flooded,” Vuong Le said, overwhelmed by the new demand.
The restaurant faced an hour-long wait time for orders as they struggled to keep up with the phone calls. Jennifer’s mother, Ha Tran, managed the kitchen, while her father handled orders and grocery runs. Her younger sister, a high school senior, also pitched in to help during the busy periods.
Community Support
Lee’s Noodle House is located near the area devastated by the 2017 California wildfires, which severely impacted local businesses. The restaurant’s customer base dwindled further during the pandemic. Despite these setbacks, the family didn’t receive any government assistance from the federal relief package.
Jennifer moved back home from college in Southern California to help her parents with to-go orders during the early days of the pandemic, a practice she continued during school breaks. Her viral TikTok video brought much-needed support at a critical time.
“My parents are really grateful for all the support,” she said. To alleviate some of their stress, she traveled back to Santa Rosa to assist in the restaurant for two weeks. She shared menu recommendations on TikTok to help new customers navigate their options, highlighting dishes like the Bánh Mì pork sandwich.
A Positive Outcome
The overwhelming community support has significantly boosted the family’s morale and business. “Seeing everyone come together as a community has been a powerful takeaway,” Jennifer remarked. Her viral video not only saved the restaurant, but also showcased the power of social media to bring people together for a good cause. The story of Lee’s Noodle House is a testament to the resilience of small businesses and the power of community support.
References:
Lee’s Noodle House
Lee’s Noodle House on Instagram
jennif3rle on Tiktok
ABC News: Daughter’s TikTok goes viral, brings customers to parents’ Vietnamese restaurant
