Aaron Kim and the Xenia China Inn

The following was submitted by Juliette Rocheleau of the updayton Entrepreneurship Team, and is the second in a series of  articles about Dayton-area entrepreneurs.

Xenia China Inn was a Chinese restaurant found on Main Street in Xenia, Ohio for twenty years. In early 2008, the family business shut its doors and left many with sad hearts and growling stomachs. At the end of 2010, Aaron Kim re-opened Xenia China Inn at a new location (417 W. Second Street, Xenia, OH 45385). The surrounding parts of Dayton perked up at the prospect of once again enjoying the Inn’s cuisine.

Kim committed several months of hard work in order to re-open his business. He used a variety of different sources for the start-up cash, including funds saved in the bank and profit from selling personal items. “Whatever it takes,” said Kim. “I scraped as much as I could to get it open.” Working over a year on the project, the citizens of Xenia anticipated the restaurant opening eagerly. Kim explained, “I didn’t really have to advertise it. People missed my old restaurant, so they kept their eyes open.”

Kim was born in South Korea and in 1981 moved to Los Angeles. It wasn’t until Kim was seventeen that he moved to Dayton. Kim attended school and helped his parents with their business. When Kim’s mother, Buk Sil Park, bought Xenia China Inn, she asked her son to join the business venture. Kim explained, “I told her, ‘Sure, family business sounds good.’ So, we opened up the restaurant in Xenia.”

Kim currently works alongside his wife, Mary. With the restaurant opening the fall of 2010, Kim’s average workweek is sixty hours or more. Kim said, “That’s what it takes—a lot of dedication.” He has learned that owning your own business has its hardships, but an entrepreneur has no choice. “You’ve got to have the drive to get it done. We spend a lot of hours, but we do what it takes,” said Kim. Together, Aaron and Mary have two young girls. He admits how difficult it is, spending so much time away from his daughters. He explained, “It’s tough, because I have my two little girls who I spent a lot of time with when I was off. But somebody’s got to make the egg rolls.”

Even though he spends much of his time working, Kim explain that the restaurant business is a group effort. According to Kim, “It’s more like teamwork. Everybody has to do their own part. Otherwise, it doesn’t work.” Kim strives to keep up a happy, “paradise” atmosphere for his employees. Kim re-hired a handful of employees when Xenia China re-opened and brought new faces into the mix as well. “If you get the right crew, the atmosphere is right and everybody gets along. Then it should be a fun job,” said Kim. He stressed it was important to have a welcoming environment, especially in the winter. He explained, “You arrive and food’s around and the place is warm—you can’t get anything to go wrong.”

With this attitude, it isn’t surprising that Kim’s favorite part of the job is his customers. He explained their gratitude for his perseverance in re-opening the restaurant is what makes the job worth it. He said, “That gives me strength. It gives me energy.”

The Kim family is looking to expand Xenia China Inn’s menu this summer. Having friends who are farmers, Kim hopes to use fresh, local food in the dishes he serves. He said, “I’d like to do more fruits and such, maybe some salads, some other fresh food.” Japanese ginger dressings and Asian style salads might appear in the kitchen soon. He said, “It depends on how it goes. I can’t predict it all—day by day, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

A resident of the Dayton area for thirty years, Kim admits that Dayton has qualities that may be both negative and positive. “Life goes at a slower pace here than in any other big city. I like that,” said Kim. He also views the people of Dayton as one of the area’s positive aspects, explaining, “The people here are nice. I grew up in the big city, and I think that living here has made me more laid-back.”

Kim likes the measured rhythm of the city, which makes him appreciate life more. “It seems like the big cities rush, rush, rush—and then your life goes by in the blink of an eye,” said Kim. “Dayton is not really in the fast-paced track, but that’s the advantage that we have.”

Working as a small business owner in the Dayton area, Kim’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple and straightforward: “Don’t do it unless you’re willing to deal with all the obstacles.” According to Kim, in the dog-eat-dog world of business, an aspiring business owner needs to know the venture is a roller coaster. “It always goes up and then it’ll come right back down. You have to stay in there.”

Along with courage to experience the ride, Kim believes a future entrepreneur needs to be happy.  He said, “Just think of it as another day in paradise.” Once you’ve mastered those two necessary traits, Kim stresses the importance of focusing on what you can control. Simply, he says, “Go with your heart, and that’s it.”

Owning and running your own business is a tough, full-time job. Along with hard work and constant drive, Kim says it’s necessary to be thankful, too. “I’m happy that I’m here.” He said, “Thank God that we are healthy, because that’s really all that matters.” In the end, Kim stresses the importance of “hanging in there.” He said, “Just when you think you’ve done it all, think again.” According to Kim, entrepreneurship is a constant learning experience, stating, “You’ve got your goal and your dream, and you can’t give up. Even when you finally get there—keep going.”