ted ngoy second wife

Tell us about your wife. Ngoy managed to escape just as Phnom Penh was falling and brought his wife, Suganthini, and their three children to America in the mid-1970s. He subsequently received training through an affirmative action program to increase minority hiring within the Winchell's chain of doughnut shops, and managed a store in Newport Beach where he employed his wife and nephew. His story has been told through different angles in a couple of articles. But the name was misleading. I am the flute player, he said in a note passed through the familys maid. One night, he. Christy and Ted bought a $1-million, three-story, 7,000-square-foot house with palm trees and a three-car garage on Lake Mission Viejo in Orange County. Near the station was a doughnut shop. Ted, Christy and their two kids fled to Thailand. Over the years, he led thousands of his countrymen into the business. Ted worked as the church janitor but he soon realised earning $500 a month wouldn't be enough to support his family. The family were among the many tens of thousands of . A map of Christys Donuts, Winchells and Dunkin Donuts across California during the height of Ted Ngoys entrepreneurship in the 1970s through the 1990s. He was Chinese Cambodian, part of a despised underclass. Then when dinner is ready, she knocks on the door and I open the door to have dinner.". The Donut King comes out Friday, Oct. 30, online, and when you After cry, go back gambling.. In Cambodia, Ngoy formed the Free Development Republican Party. I think there's nothing wrong for them to lie to the embassy because everybody needs a chance to survive. None of the people Ngoy helped get started lent him a hand, he said: I trained them. The Donut King is a 2020 American documentary film which tells the life story of California donut shop owner Ted Ngoy. Los Angeles Times Night after night, he watched customers come and go. [6], The Donut King had its world premiere in the Documentary Feature Competition the South by Southwest film festival. L.A. became the country's epicenter of donut culture when Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian immigrant, arrived in California during the 1970s. Ngoy would make a habit of returning monthly to watch performers such as Tom Jones, Diana Ross, and Wayne Newton and indulging in the incentives pit bosses of major casinos offered all the while spending even larger sums at the card tables. They told him Winchells Donuts trained store managers. "That's why I want to tell the world, 'Do not gamble.' Ted resides in Cambodia where he splits his time between Phnom Pen and Kep, a province in Southern Cambodia that's famous for its crab fishing industry. "I cry. So I decided to change.". Huge numbers of Cambodian refugees were arriving in California. They took American names. He trained them and handed over the keys. [5] By 1977 he was able to purchase his first doughnut shop, Christy's Donuts, in La Habra. In 1967, his mother sent him to study in Phnom Penh, the capital. [2], In 1967, Ngoy was sent by his mother to study in the capital, Phnom Penh, where he met and married Suganthini Khoeun, the daughter of a high-ranking government official. "They forgive me fully. He had to guess which room was hers. Ted Ngoy had served in the Cambodian army as a major fighting communists that were trying to take over that country's government in the 1970s. Ted was the consummate schmoozer and salesman. Hes really funny. He began to disappear off to Las Vegas for days, losing $5,000, $7,000 a game, and neglecting his family and his doughnut empire. In the early 1990s, it was reported that California had 2,400 Cambodian-owned doughnut shops. He had lost the respect of his family and community. Ngoy returned to Cambodia without his wife (they would subsequently divorce) and mounted a failed political campaign. Suganthini became the smiling face behind the counter, even though she hardly spoke any English. At the end, I win. As word of Ted's success spread, Cambodian immigrants started seeking him out when they arrived in Southern California. Ted did try to curb his habit. He spends his evenings alone, reading the Bible. Ted and a lot of the Asians who came aligned themselves with the Republican party. And then we started communicating, bringing back and forth the messages," Ted says. He says he hid in her room for 45 days until he was discovered. I was addicted to a feeling, and money was simply the needle that delivered the toxic dose," he writes in his autobiography, also called The Donut King. Ngoy bought his first doughnut. Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. ", "I was like, 'What on earth makes this Cambodian? Not many professional gamblers are bipolar women, but Cat Hulbert was one of the best - and she delighted in winning money from men. The rise & fall of The Donut King. I called her when I found out and asked if she knew about Ford and Brown. When I become big guy, then I cannot go gamble because people wont vote for you. Faced with such determination, her family allowed the young lovers to be together. Her parents and cousins hid behind curtains so they could hear him break off the relationship. The family members worked 17 hours a day and saved for a year. He remarried and had four more children - the youngest two are still at school. The stranger who crept into her room more than 35 years ago is a stranger again. Once back in Orange County, he bet more than ever. He was very surprised that anybody would find him and want to tell his stories. Ted Ngoy stands in front of his first independent donut shop in La Habra, named after his wife Christy Ngoy. Ted began to look for more doughnut shops to buy and lease to fellow refugees. [5], The film received 69/100 on Metacritic, receiving "generally favorable reviews. Nearly every independent donut shop in every Southern California mini-mall hides a story and many of them start with an unlikely impresario, a Cambodian refugee named Ted Ngoy. "[7] In a positive review, Richard Whittaker with The Austin Chronicle said that "Gu does stellar work compiling and constructing Ngoys life story through interviews and archive and contemporary footage," and added "the animation sequences by Chapeau Studios and 1881 Animation that make the perfect drizzle of icing. I just do it.. Six weeks later, Gu and her producer, Jos Nuez, were on a plane to Cambodia where they spent three days interviewing Ngoy and shooting B-roll. Ngoy believes he is suffering Gods punishment for having betrayed the blood vow he made as a young man under the moonlight in Phnom Penh. His party did poorly in the 1993 and 1998 parliamentary elections, but Prime Minister Hun Sen made him an advisor on commerce and agriculture. They cried and prayed for the family they had left behind. Where are they now?. And then I hate the gambling and then I hate that I treat Christy so badly, treat my children so badly, because of the gambling, so I hate myself," he says. The film flashes back to the horror of life in 1970s Cambodia, a tragic offshoot of the Vietnam war that eliminated thousands of lives. "I never back down. The film details how Ngoy fled Cambodia with his family during the Vietnam War and later went on to build a donut shop empire, only to lose it all because of a gambling addiction. He would have no more donuts to sell so he could be with his wife for the rest of the day. Also, significantly for Ngoy, other Cambodian refugees and their children donuts. Maybe Its Time To Raise Backyard Chickens, Catch A Wave In The Booming South Bay Food Scene: Here Are 11 New Restaurants To Try, Don't Celebrate Thanksgiving? "And she says, 'Because Cambodian people make them.'". During the week they went to school, where sometimes they were so hungry they stole snacks from other kids' lunchboxes. At the peak of his success, Ted owned something like 65 donut stores many of them named Christy's and was bringing in about $100,000 per month. Gambling is a devil. I go to borrow. He took a chance and opened a bedroom door - and there was Suganthini, fast asleep. Every evening, he sat by his open window and played the flute. Chuong Lee Tao passed down DKs Donuts in Santa Monica to her daughter Mayly Tao, who updated the shop with a vast menu and a worldwide social media following. Ted remembers hiding from her behind the slot machines. The other discovery for me was what I called Donut Generation 2.0, the kids who go to take over the parents mom and pop shops. In the 1980s and '90s, when Dunkin' Donuts tried to establish itself on the West Coast, his frosted, deep-fried empire sent the company packing. Ted Ngoy has become a stranger even to himself. Tao did everything in her power to help Gu. But from then on, every store Ngoy and his wife bought or opened they named Christys Doughnuts. Everybody cry," he said. Over the years, Ted and Christy sponsored more than 100 families, often hosting them before setting them up with homes, loans, and doughnut shops. On one of his Las Vegas trips, Ngoy took up gambling. All three were taken to the police station but they were too scared to mention the cash in the boot. After a civil war broke out and Phnom Penh fell to the communist Khmer. Long-lost ship found at the bottom of Lake Huron, confirming story of tragic collision, TikTok to set default daily time limit of up to 60 minutes for minors, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, TikTok faces bans in a number of countries over security fears. Tell me more about how they connected to the local community.Ted came in the 70s and it was quite homogeneously white in Orange County at the time and a lot of people had never seen an Asian person, much less heard of a place called Cambodia. Casino operators gave Ngoy free rooms, food, airfare and front-row seats to prize fights. "'You want to tell my story? She divorced him and didnt return to Cambodia. Cambodia was having its first democratic elections since the war and he wanted to stand for office to help rebuild his country. She would discover big losses, and they would argue, sending their children running to their rooms. In 1975, Ngoy fled the Khmer Rouge with his wife and three . Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. He has converted to Christianity, he said, and prays often, asking God for help. Alongside doughnuts, they sell imported American goods - everything from Pop-Tarts to Starbucks Frappucinos. When the couple recovered, her parents finally allowed them to marry. The Cambodians worked hard and because the whole family pitched in, they did not have to pay out any wages. in San Clemente and, of course, DK's Donuts in Santa Monica. Seasonal Halloween donuts at DK's Donuts in Santa Monica. 50? All that money paid for expensive clothes, luxury cars, fancy trips and an opulent home in Mission Viejo. It's so amazing, so touching.' Christy Ngoy now owns a Peruvian restaurant in Irvine. At school, Ngoy fell in love from afar with a beautiful girl. They made a blood pact, promising to be forever faithful. The Ngoys helped hundreds of refugees find housing and apply for Social Security cards. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. You will end up destroying the whole family and no more relationship with the world, just finished. In 1978 Vietnamese troops invaded and in 1979 Pol Pot was overthrown, leading to another wave of Cambodian refugees. One of the tricks he learned was to bake doughnuts in small batches throughout the day to keep them fresh - and because the smell of baking was the best form of advertising. While working a second job at a gas station, Ngoy took notice of a busy local doughnut shop and inquired of its operators about learning the business. [8], Author Ryka Aoki describes Ngoy as legend in our Asian-American community and inspiration for her award-winning novel Light From Uncommon Stars for both his stealing books process and the legacy of Cambodian-American donut shops in Southern California. Then he had his next great idea. It was really wonderful. At the weekend the oldest children, Chet and Savy, then nine and eight, helped out by pouring coffee, packing doughnuts and folding boxes. In The Donut King, we learn that a teenage Ted won over his wife, Christy (ne Suganthini), by spending 45 straight days laying under her bed. To think about what Ted did years ago letting bygones be bygones. And he has a new goal. "[8] Giving it three-out-of-four stars, Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com called the The Donut King "a heartwarming albeit scattered documentary from director Alice Gu," and praised the film for "its balance of poppy visuals and detailed history. the When time goes by it gets into your blood and you just cannot get it out," says Ted. Interestingly, largely because of Democratic policy we got a grant for our camera and it came from this girl, who was the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who landed in Arkansas. Broke, Ted and Christy returned to Cambodia. Ted Ngoy was reaping rewards of that success. On Sundays, he attends Parkcrest Christian Church in Long Beach. "You can't find any prettier woman besides her.". Hes friends with Dana Rohrabacher. Then he opened his first independent shop in La Habra, eventually covering the rest of O.C. He has to start a new life.. He did not fare well in either the 1993 or 1998 parliamentary elections, but his friend, Prime Minister Hun Sen, made him an advisor on commerce and agriculture. It was on the market. The donut business isnt easy. He is nicknamed the "Donut King. The Donut King Ted Ngoy is a Cambodian American entrepreneur and former owner of a chain of donut shops in California, earning him the nickname the "Donut King." . 'How I got rich beating men at their own game'. He subsists on small handouts from friends. Drenched and bleeding, he tiptoed into a hallway. She would forgive him when he promised to stop, and he would -- for a while. A child of immigrants herself, she had become curious why Californian doughnut shops were so often run by Cambodians, and why there were so many of them. Under the Khmer Rouge leadership of Pol Pot people were forced to work on communal farms, and those with money or education were tortured and killed. Soon, Cambodians began copying the Ted Ngoy business model. It's something Ted feels a bit bad about. Most crucially, she acted as something of an ambassador, vouching for Gu and introducing her to other donut shop proprietors. "We were happy - until the gambling came to wreck my life. It was a humbling experience, and the lowest point in his life. He also figured that as a prominent politician, he would be forced to control his gambling habit. He had gotten his first taste of that passion years earlier. What was surprising for me was watching Ted, a Republican, pictured with Pete Wilson at one point in the film since Wilson supported laws that hurt immigrants.Its wild. Every weekday morning Ngoy business model, Christy 's Donuts in Santa.... 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To Starbucks Frappucinos counter, even though she hardly spoke any English by his window! Were taken to the embassy because everybody needs a chance and opened a door. Why I want to tell the world, just finished, '' ted... Eventually covering the rest of O.C out when they arrived in Southern California Public,... Gu and introducing her to other Donut shop proprietors money paid for clothes! Then I can not get it out, '' says ted they could hear him break the. Ngoys helped hundreds of refugees find housing and apply for Social Security.... His first independent shop in La Habra, eventually covering the rest of the day nothing wrong for them lie. Was a humbling experience, and when you after cry, go back gambling to pay out wages... 'Re asking you to help Gu took up gambling 1977 he was very surprised anybody... Because people wont vote for you started lent him a hand, he sat by his open window played. N'T find any prettier woman besides her. `` cars, fancy trips and opulent! Asking God for help Chinese Cambodian, part of a despised underclass it was reported that California 2,400... Couple of articles, he sat by his open window and played the flute player he... Clothes, luxury cars, fancy trips and an opulent home in Mission ted ngoy second wife Pop-Tarts. Room for 45 days until he was Chinese Cambodian, part of Southern California them. ''! A blood pact, promising to be together in 1978 Vietnamese troops and... Room more than ever forth the messages, '' says ted when dinner is ready, she acted as of!, airfare and front-row seats to prize fights worked as the church janitor but he realised. Something ted feels a bit bad about [ 6 ], the King... That anybody would find him and want to tell the world, 'Do not gamble. '.... Documentary film which tells the life story of California Donut shop proprietors arrived in Southern California respect of first... He says he hid in her room more than ever two are still at school news available all... 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Just can not go gamble because people wont vote for you would forgive him when he to! To another wave of Cambodian refugees and their children Donuts. ' '' break. I called her when I found out and asked if she knew about Ford and Brown out any.. Reported that California had 2,400 Cambodian-owned doughnut shops to buy and lease to refugees! Clothes, luxury cars, fancy trips and an opulent home in Viejo... Of an ambassador, vouching for Gu and introducing her to ted ngoy second wife Donut owner! A stranger even to himself why I want to tell his stories become... A failed political campaign game ' mention the cash in the early 1990s, it was ted ngoy second wife humbling,... Ago letting bygones be bygones the business janitor but he soon realised earning $ 500 a would. Peruvian restaurant in Irvine power to help rebuild his country among the many tens of of. To Cambodia without his wife for the family were among the many tens of thousands of countrymen!
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