ABOVE: China House Cafe Owner Johnny Vuong stands with one stack of ingredients. He purchased several stacks, around three months worth, in advance of rising tariffs.

TRUMAN– On April 10, China House Cafe owner Johnny Vuong posted on Facebook that he would likely have to close the restaurant soon unless the tariffs go down. Vuong said he made the post to keep people informed about his current situation and caution them against purchasing restaurant gift cards.

If the China House Cafe were to close, Aardvark’s Bar and Grill would be the only remaining restaurant in Truman.

On average, the China House Cafe’s expenses were around $2,200 per week, spending more or less based on demand. When the initial tariffs went into effect, Vuong said he saw his expenses increase by $600.

Since then, Vuong said he purchased three months’ worth of dry goods before the tariffs went into full effect thanks to information from his suppliers. Currently, the tariff on Chinese goods is 124 percent according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics. When those dry goods run out, Vuong said he will have no choice but to close.

“Water chestnuts [are usually] $31 a case,” he said. “If 125 percent tariff kicks in, it’s going to be $78. How [does my business] survive? The only way I could survive is not to use any of those. I could put avocado in it, tomato, mashed potato. But this is Chinese food, you use Chinese vegetables.”

A majority of Vuong’s ingredients are included in these tariffs. In addition, chicken prices have gone up due to the ongoing bird flu issues.

Throughout his 45 years in America Vuong has lived in 13 states and dozens of communities. He said out of all of them Truman has had the most amazing people and supportive community. With this in mind, Vuong stressed he does not want to make his business into a political issue.

“If the tariff is good for the country I agree with it,” he said. “The country needs to make money, right? I agree with that. But up to a certain point you increase so much, the restaurant owner cannot increase the price that much. President is president. If they do something like that, we have to think of a way to survive.”

For the time being, Vuong said he is fine. The portions and prices will stay the same and he is not looking for donations or financial handouts.

“I don’t take people’s money,” Vuong said. “I believe you work for your money, I don’t put my hand out.”

Fairmont’s China Buffett has been open since 1996, and in its current space at Five Lakes Centre since 2011. Owner Min Lin said her expenses have increased since COVID. With the tariffs, she said expenses have continued to get worse.

“It is higher compared to before,” Lin said. “Everything is expensive.”

With their business being all-you-can-eat, ingredients must be stocked consistently to make all the items every day.

Canned ingredients, meat and seafood are some items Lin said would go up 25 percent or more in price due to the tariffs. She gets her ingredients from an Asian food distributor out of Minneapolis, and directly from farmers. In response to the price change, Lin also stocked up on what she could.

In the past they have raised the price to match expenses, but only in small amounts of 50 cents or less. Lin said half of her believes they will be able to manage moving forward, while the other half is concerned increased expenses could stop her business.

Five Lakes Centre has already seen the loss of True Value and Sterling Drug’s gift store within the last year. As things stand right now, Lin said she believes she will be able to keep China Buffet open for the foreseeable future.

China House Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Fairmont China Buffet is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday. For more information, visit https://www.chinahousecafe.com/. and https://chinabuffetfairmont.com/.