The man behind Peanuts Cafe counter
My Nguyen
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Peanuts Cafe, located on San Fernando Street, has been serving the community and SJSU students for 27 years.
Myun Chang, owner of Peanuts restaurant, said his family took over the business in 1982.
"My family immigrated to the United States in 1980, looking for small business," he said.
Chang said the price of the restaurant was affordable, so his family bought it.
"The former owner had financial problems with the restaurant, so he decided to put it on the market for a good price," Chang said. "We didn't have a lot of money, but they don't care, so we take over."
Chang said when his family took over the restaurant, there wasn't a lot of business because there were a lot of other restaurants opening up at the same time. He said the restaurant has survived because of three things.
"We made good price and a lot of food and we're family run, so we make a lot of customers," he said.
Chang said he ran the restaurant with his father, mother and sister.
When his dad passed away seven years ago, Chang said he took over the family business.
He said his wife, Jewon Chang, would occasionally help him manage the restaurant.
Chang said he doesn't have a restaurant business background, but enjoys working at one.
"We don't have any experience actually," he said. "That's why we don't know how to change the name. But Peanuts is a good name, that's why we keep the name."
Chang said the restaurant has not changed from its previous glory.
"Sometimes my old customers come and they say, 'Oh my God, everything's the same' - same furniture, same ugly face," he said while laughing. "They're happy, like old memories."
Vu Nguyen, a senior civil engineering major, said he enjoys the fact that the restaurant hasn't changed and that it's family owned.
"They know you better, and the regulars that come in, they know you by name," he said. "It's better than McDonalds. The owner has said to me before, 'Don't forget your glasses' or 'Oh my goodness you lost weight.'"
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Mike S
posted 11/19/09 @ 11:14 AM PST
I lived one door away from Peanuts at the corner of 7th and San Fernando for a few years when it was the Beta Theta Pi house. We would refer to Peanuts as "the fridge. (Continued…)
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