10 minute read
Equality Eats Here — Peachy Corners Cafe
Tucked away in the Spalding Center complex on Spalding Drive, the charming front patio decked out with string lights welcomes you to Peachy Corners Cafe. The menu features favorites like espresso drinks, drip coffee, tea and pastries, and also includes a variety of bubble tea and smoothies. Mellow music lends the space a relaxed vibe, while a chalk wall covered in doodles and rolling cart stacked high with board games suggests the kid-friendly fun that takes place here.
Owner Long Tran opened Peachy Corners Cafe with his wife Susie Martono-Tran in January of 2020. “My wife has always wanted to open a bubble tea shop since I met her,” explained Long, who was inspired to open a cafe when he struggled to find good local coffee during his sons’ karate lessons across the street. “We decided to merge the two and sell really good coffee and really good bubble tea and thought that could work. There’s something to it because we are still here, despite the pandemic.”
Advertisement
Written and photos by Isadora Pennington
Trial by fire
2020 was quite a challenging time to open a coffee shop. “We had no idea,” said Long, shaking his head at the memory. Peachy Corners Cafe was among the first restaurants in the area to shut their doors as the information they received from their friends and loved ones who live in other countries gave them advance notice as to the severity of COVID-19 and what to expect. From midMarch to early June the doors at the cafe remained closed and their fledgling business could have been in serious trouble. Fortunately, they had an idea that allowed them to stay afloat during those early days of the pandemic.
They began making drinks to donate to healthcare professionals and first responders, and quickly word got out about these charitable acts. The community responded positively, with many regular customers stepping up to donate funds that allowed Peachy Corners Cafe to give back to those on the front line, find a use for their perishables so they would not go to waste and operate in such a way that they did not lose money on the products they already had on hand before the shutdowns. “We didn’t make money off the donations, but it kept us from losing money as well,” explained Long. “I think that was very crucial to us, and it also became a way for us to continue engaging with the community and get our name out there as a new business.”
It was important to Long to take precautionary action in response to COVID-19. Not only did he want to keep his family safe, he also wanted to ensure that he had the necessary supplies like hand sanitizer, plexiglass dividers and upgraded filters for the cafe’s HVAC system which would ensure his staff and customers would also be safe when they eventually reopened.
Their efforts seem to have paid off. None of the staff has gotten sick, and these days the customers have started coming in again. “By the end of July, we saw business slowly return, and now I think we are starting to get a sense for the potential of what this space might be.” Peachy Corners Cafe has a loyal following and Long knows many of the regulars by name. Popular among working professionals during the day, there are also a lot of families and kids that frequent the cafe after school.
No space for hate
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been those who have blamed Asian countries for the origin and spread of the COVID-19 virus. When those views were expressed in the media, the
idea quickly took hold and Long witnessed a variety of responses from microaggressions and boycotting all the way to outright intimidation and violence.
“Atlanta has got this great community and great sense of community, but recently it seems there has been a rise in resentment,” said Long. “With rhetoric from our elected leaders, regardless of which political side they are on, when you are trying to score political points by going after North Korea or China, you can inadvertently paint targets on the backs of your Asian American citizens.”
Locally, the response to these ideas has been largely passive aggressive rather than outright aggressive, unlike the hate crimes frequently taking place in cities like San Francisco and New York where Asian Americans are literally being attacked on the streets without provocation.
Throughout the pandemic, and amplified over the last four years, the rise in racism and hate crimes has set the stage for prejudice, hatred and fear. Armed protestors took to the streets of Chinatown in Chamblee last summer, telling Chinese business owners and citizens that they were not welcome. Businesses on Buford Highway are receiving hateful phone calls or prank calls — and some have even had rocks thrown through their windows. Last spring ‘Wuhan plague’ plaques began popping up on signs and businesses throughout the city that depicted Winnie The Pooh eating a bat. These incidents represent a growing hostility towards Asian people as a whole, and ultimately culminated in the brutal slaying of eight people — six of whom were Asian women — working at historically Asian spas in March.
Long said he has heard reports of an increase in hatred and intimidation toward his Asian customers, especially teenagers and kids who have noted increased bullying at school. “I consider myself very fortunate,” said Long. “I think Peachtree Corners has been amazing and supportive of all of its businesses. I haven’t necessarily experienced anything like that, we haven’t gotten those phone calls to our cafe. But we have had times when a customer walks through Making a difference
Not one to simply stand by and witness these upsetting trends and devastating losses, Long has taken an active role in helping the Asian American communities heal and find solidarity in the face of what is often overwhelming fear and worry. Though he does not lead any nonprofits, Long is well connected with a number of the organizations and community leaders that are making a difference. By leveraging those connections, he has helped to engage volunteers, spread information about the efforts of nonprofits he admires, like Stop AAPI Hate, and organize demonstrations such as the Stop Asian Hate rally which drew over 3,000 attendees to the Liberty Plaza in Downtown Atlanta. Long also organized a candlelight vigil for the victims in Dunwoody and a cultural celebration in Decatur which aimed to both educate and celebrate Asian American culture.
Back in April, Long was asked by the Democratic Party of Georgia to introduce President Biden during a drive-in rally at the Infinite Energy Center. During his speech, Long talked about his experience as the son of Vietnamese immigrants, the ways in which COVID-19 has affected the Asian American community and the recent election of two Democratic senators in Georgia. The fact that the rally happened to take place on the 46th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon during the Vietnam War cemented the importance of speaking on these issues for Long.
What can we do?
In addition to donating to causes such as Stop AAPI Hate, Long also has been advocating for local Asian owned businesses by posting reviews online and encouraging people to frequent those restaurants and shops. He created and distributed Equality Eats Here stickers to display on the doors of eateries that are safe places for all people. Long also recommends talking to your kids about bullying and how to ensure their Asian American classmates don’t feel alone during these trying times.
“On a micro level, within our community, I would encourage people who live in Peachtree Corners to get to know the owners of local small businesses,” said Long. “It means even more when it’s an Asian or a Black-owned business and you get to know the owners by name. There’s a bond that you build, and it becomes harder to let all the hate and fear come into play when you personally know someone.”
Opposite page, Long Tran Above, Interior shots of Peachy Corners Cafe. Photos by Isadora Pennington
5275 Peachtree Pkwy Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
To advertise in this section please contact Julie Davis at julie@livinginpeachtreecorners.com
Moe’s Original BBQ Open
Scott Carlock and Harris Carlock, along with Kyle McCarter, have opened a new Moe’s Original BBQ in Peachtree Corners. This almost 2000-square-foot fast casual restaurant is a great place for the community to enjoy a meal together or celebrate little league victories and birthdays. It’s also fun just to watch everyone’s favorite sports on the TVs set around the full premium bar or on the large outdoor patio. Pickup and delivery service is available from Chow Now and Uber Eats. Premium catering services, with a service-oriented staff, is also ready to accommodate any group for parties and events.
Serving Alabama-style BBQ since 1988, Moe’s Original BBQ has been included in the Top 10 BBQ Chains in America by USA Today and The Daily Meal. It’s listed as one of the fastest growing, emerging restaurant chains by Restaurant Business Magazine, and one of the Top 10 Rib Joints in the U.S. by Relish.
Peachtree Farm to uplift people, propagate tomatoes
Planning is underway for a farm in Peachtree Corners that will help people with disabilities find meaningful employment and lead more independent lives.
Mike Twiner, president of Peachtree Farm, said the non-profit organization is building its first greenhouse this summer. “In the next few years, we will add four more greenhouses, with a total of five state-of-the-art hydroponic facilities,” Twiner added.
The organization plans to grow and sell produce locally, starting with tomatoes. After the farm is up and running, the organization plans to construct 15 cottages that will allow people to live safely on the farm.
The idea for Peachtree Farm stems from the Twiner family’s experience. As a family with an adult with disabilities, creating inclusive and accessible spaces has always been at the core of its engagement with the community, Twiner said. “Unfortunately, there are limited opportunities for individuals with disabilities to find meaningful employment that allows them to be valued participants in society,” he continued.
“We hope to demonstrate the importance of accessibility and sustainability. Making work and housing accessible to adults with disabilities involves creating pathways that train and employ individuals, while also welcoming the broader community to join the movement for accessibility.”
we can create and manage your presence online
5155 Peachtree Pkwy., Suite 320
Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092 For reservations, please call 678-421-1720 www.grace1720.com
Go the extra mile with extra everything. Or keep it light to feel just right. This is your life. Your recipe. So don’t let anyone tell you how to salad.
5210 Town Center Blvd, Suite 210 Peachtree Corners, GA 30093
