Orange County has Central Florida’s largest concentration of Asian Americans
ORLANDO, Fla. – After the Vietnam war ended, hundreds of Vietnamese came to Central Florida through the catholic charities refugee program and found a new home near Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive, an area known today as the Mills 50 District.
The area has also long been called little Saigon, reflecting a significant transformation that began in Orlando’s Colonialtown neighborhood with the arrival of Vietnamese people in the late 1970s.
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“We escaped Vietnam, so we come here in 1979,” Hung Kim Chau, manager and co-owner of Dong A Co. Oriental Supermarket in the Mills 50 district, said.
The supermarket caters to the Asian American community giving a sense of home away from home. Kim Chau escaped with her parents and siblings after the fall of Saigon in 1975.
“(When) we left Vietnam, we have nothing left,” she said.
After the Vietnam war ended, the family resettled in Orlando.
“With six brother(s) and sister(s) is hard to raise. So my father work(ed) two job(s),” Kim Chau said.
Her father worked two jobs, but she said he was laid off, and in 1982 he opened Dong A Oriental supermarket.
“Every day open, 40 years. We just keep working — year by year it just goes very fast,” she said.
Kim Chau and her siblings continue their father’s legacy by running his supermarket where customers like Jeff Tony, who drives an hour from Cocoa, go in search of Asian products and produce.
“I love it because I love to cook,” Tony, who used to live in Orlando, said.
He told News 6 that he makes the trip once a month.
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“When I come over to Orlando, I always make it a trip, a side trip absolutely; get my dumplings, get my spring rolls, my rice crackers,” Tony said.
Taking a drive down East Colonial Drive is like going into a world of Asian American cultures, a place where Asian Americans began to thrive in the 1980s and 90s.
“It was a good starting place, and it just really started to create momentum,” Pam Schwartz, executive director of the Orlando Regional History Center said. “It’s a really busy intersection and the rent, at the time, was really affordable, and so one business sort of working brought another business, brought another business.”
From Chinese and Thai cuisine to Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese storefronts, the Mills 50 District turned into a bustling hot spot for Asian Americans in search of the American dream. According to the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the top Asian American populations are Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino.
Orange County has Central Florida’s largest concentration of Asian Americans with more than 78,300 people, according to the 2020 Census.
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I'm an enthusiast deeply immersed in the rich tapestry of cultural history, particularly the Asian American experience in the United States. Over the years, I've extensively researched and engaged with various communities, and my passion for this subject matter has driven me to explore the nuances and transformations that define these cultural landscapes.
In the article about Orange County and the Mills 50 District in Central Florida, it vividly captures the story of Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in the late 1970s after the Vietnam War. The evidence lies in the narratives of individuals like Hung Kim Chau, the manager and co-owner of Dong A Co. Oriental Supermarket, who personally experienced the challenges and triumphs of starting anew in a foreign land.
The mention of the Mills 50 District, known as Little Saigon, is a testament to the profound impact of the Vietnamese community on the local landscape. The article traces the origins of this transformation to Orlando's Colonialtown neighborhood and how it evolved into a vibrant hub for Asian Americans, showcasing their resilience and pursuit of the American dream.
The article further explores the growth of the Asian American community in the 1980s and 90s, highlighting the diversity of cultures present in the Mills 50 District. It takes us on a journey down East Colonial Drive, portraying it as a microcosm of Asian American cultures, from Chinese and Thai to Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese storefronts.
Notably, Pam Schwartz, the executive director of the Orlando Regional History Center, provides historical context, explaining that the area's affordability and momentum played pivotal roles in fostering a thriving community. The cascade effect of one business attracting another has been instrumental in shaping this dynamic cultural enclave.
Backing this narrative is data from the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, identifying Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino populations as the top Asian American groups. The 2020 Census underscores Orange County's significance, boasting Central Florida's largest concentration of Asian Americans, totaling over 78,300 people.
This information not only speaks to the historical journey of the Vietnamese community in Central Florida but also highlights the broader tapestry of Asian American experiences, contributions, and cultural diversity in the region.
