‘ WE MET NICE PEOPLE THAT BECAME FRIENDS ’
PROFILE
Chinese immigrants find a home in Elwood
STORY BY PHIL BEEBE PHOTOS BY RICHARD SITLER
There ’ s nothing unusual about seeing two or three teenagers working on their homework or helping serve customers any evening at the China Town restaurant in Elwood .
What ’ s unusual is when Hong , Anthony and Kaitlyn are not around .
“ My customers , if they don ’ t see my kids , they will ask about them ,” says Pete Pan , longtime owner and operator of the Chinese restaurant on Main Street .
“ They see my kids here every day , and if there ’ s a day they aren ’ t here , they will ask , ‘ Is everything going well ?’ I say , ‘ Well yeah , they are growing , they can be home .’”
Pete Pan and Fen Xial have owned China Town for 20 years , and they are appreciative of Elwood residents making them feel welcome .
Pete moved from China to Kentucky 25 years ago , following his parents who had moved over a few years earlier . He met Fen in the United States .
Pete moved to Elwood from Kentucky after years of working in his father ’ s restaurant . He decided he was ready to run his own business , and he wanted to establish it in a small community .
“ When my wife and I were together and we think to have the business , we looked around , and I like quiet , and the small town ,” he explains . “ We were lucky , when we came here , we met nice people that became friends . Everybody knows us , and we know everybody .”
There have been challenges for Pan and his family , for sure . Even after 20 years , Pete and Fen have less than a complete grasp of the English language .
“ The first challenge is the language . I ’ m still not speaking any good ,” he says with a chuckle . “ I ’ m still learning .”
The oldest son , Hong , is a senior at Elwood High School , and has plans to go to college and study engineering . He can be seen in the store working on his homework , and also stepping away from his work to answer the restaurant telephone , or help a customer at the counter . Like his parents , he appreciates the community support that the family has felt over the years .
“ It feels like everyone is family ,” Hong says . “ It makes me feel comfortable that they care about
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