Bing Sun Eng

In 1920s, Bing Sun Eng had arrive in New York from China via Cuba. He had lived 10 years in Cuba before emigrating to the US. It was in New York where he and partners opened up the Fong On tofu shop at 43 Mott St in 1933. Fong On meaning Grand Peace was also the original name of Bing Sun Eng who was adopted into the Eng family. His original name was Fong On Yee.

Tofu was not the original trade of Bing Sun Eng but it was the opportunity he needed to provide for his family in China. It was the necessity that propelled him into mastering the tofu business but his dedication that made it successful.

Next generation took over the store was his son and his wife. They expanded business and moved store to 46 Mott, where it stayed until 2017.

Wun Hong Eng

Bing Sun youngest son, Wun Hong Eng would take the mantle to grow and expand the business. He too would follow the same path as a means to provide for their young and growing family. Through his insightful innovation the tofu shop became an iconic staple of Chinatown in New York.

Kim Young Eng

While the spot light was often, on her husband, Wun Hong Eng, it was she who was the backbone of the family and the shop. Kim Young Eng was the matriarch and the heart of the shop. She ensured the store’s success through hardworking and determination.

Kivin

The oldest, headed up operations and management of the main shop on Mott St. Being the oldest, he had learn every part of the manufacturing process of every product. He did everything from making tofu and rice cakes to repairing the equipment to hauling raw materials into the shop.

He was also like the mayor of Chinatown, speaking to everybody he saw on the street.

Monty

In 1974, Monty became the only Chinese American policeman in the NYPD and the first in 75 years in the Chinatown area. When he retired, he came back to work in the shop providing some relief to his aging and tiring mother.

David

David headed up tofu production and oversaw the largest expansion of the tofu business. And at one point, he was also farming the soybeans that the shop made tofu with. It was from farm to table!

Opening New Store

In 2017, after 84 years in business and after the death of Wun Hong Eng and eldest son Kivin Eng in 2009, Kim Young Eng and remaining sons decided to close the business as the revenues were no longer covering the expenses. Everybody including the staff were aging out and wishing to retire.

It was then, that youngest son Paul Eng, had decided to reinvent and reopen his family business. it was not an overnight decision nor did the reinvention/reopening happen fast. It was a long journey of self reflection and a test of will power. Paul had decided this path just as his father and grandfather before him, out of necessity to feed his growing young family.

So in 2019 after a 2 year hiatus and planning, Fong On reopened with great fanfare, then immediately after the Covid pandemic happened. But yet Fong On is still here and thriving and winning new fans. And so the legacy still continues.

Paul Eng

Youngest son, Paul Eng originally trained as an architect, he worked as an architectural designer, then shifted his focus to music. He performed and recorded with various bands in New York and is credited on several records. Further creative pursuits led him to design, art direction and advertising, where he worked for many years, before pursuing his lifelong ambition of being a professional photographer.

Having to face economic realities and through his own necessity to support his young and growing family, decided to reinvent and reopen the family business, Fong On. Prior to this, Paul had not envisioned working in family business. Using his combined experiences and skills, he forment the plans that took 3 years to come to where it is now.