Latest news with #UncleClay
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular Aina Haina shave ice shop closes after 30 years
STAR-ADVERTISER / AUGUST 2017 Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha, a popular shave shop in Aina Haina, closed Monday after nearly 30 years in business. Business partners Clayton Chang, left, and Bronson Chang, are seen in this 2017 photo at their Ala Moana Center location, which closed in 2021. STAR-ADVERTISER / AUGUST 2017 Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha, a popular shave shop in Aina Haina, closed Monday after nearly 30 years in business. Business partners Clayton Chang, left, and Bronson Chang, are seen in this 2017 photo at their Ala Moana Center location, which closed in 2021. Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha, a popular shave ice shop in Aina Haina, closed its doors Monday after nearly 30 years in business. A long line of customers visited the shop on its last day of business Monday for their favorite combination of shave ice, and to bid farewell to its namesake and longtime owner Clayton Chang, or 'Uncle Clay.' The closure had been announced earlier this year, with no plans for another location. 'While our beloved House is closing, the spirit of Pure Aloha will live on—in the relationships we've built, the memories we've created, and the lessons we've learned, ' said the business in a statement posted online. 'It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve – our team, guests, and community – while pursuing our heartfelt dreams. We are proud of the impact our sincere efforts have made – from big and small to seen and unseen ways – by creating a space dedicated to our vision of 'One World 'Ohana Living Pure Aloha.'' Chang bought the former business, 'Doe Fang, ' a neighborhood candy shop in 1996, ran it for 14 years and then renamed it Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha in 2011. Chang teamed up with his nephew, Bronson Chang, to offer all-natural, homemade and handcrafted shave ice with fresh fruits—and at one point, opened a new store at Ala Moana Center. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Ala Moana Center store, citing struggles exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In answers to frequently asked questions posted online, the business said the decision to close in Aina Haina was due to a 'multifaced list of reasons ' but that the business and operating model became increasingly unsustainable. In the meantime, the business is planning to finish its 'One World 'Ohana ' project, a commemorative book about the shop and its legacy. A closing is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday. 2 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rising costs, good timing lead longtime Hawaii restaurant to close
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Local restaurant owners are feeling the squeeze of rising costs from food to learned that a local eatery that has served up Korean dishes for 40 years will soon shut its doors. Sorabol Korean Restaurant has been in business since 1985, but the owners told KHON2 that rising costs of produce, paper goods, minimum wage and planned renovations at the Pagoda Hotel have led them to retire. House to close, Aloha lives on: What's next for Uncle Clay 'So the time had fit perfect, perfect. So you know so they decided instead of waiting until this renovation has been gone, you know, done and then reopened, they said it's maybe time to close for good,' a translator said for Sorabol owner Lisa Yee. The koi that surround the restaurant have been temporarily relocated while crews clean out the pond, the restaurant owners said the fish will be back when renovations are complete. The Hawaii Restaurant Association added that tariffs on lumber from Canada could trickle down to Hawaii's paper takeout goods. 'We anticipate with the tariffs and everything going on that the costs of running a restaurant is going to go higher. So then restaurants have to make a decision as their leases are coming up, will they keep continuing? Restaurants are hoping that the community is the ones who will keep us afloat as our Asian tourism hasn't returned.' Financial experts said new administrations do bring change, but it is not anything that the United States has not seen before and the 2008 recession was worse. 'I think when we look at how disruptive and distressing that experience was, where we are, at least right now, I would say is nowhere close to that,' said First Hawaiian Bank senior vice president Raoul Magana. 'People don't have to be overwhelmed. They can come in, have a conversation, we'll help them get on the right path.' Matsuoka said there is typically a slowdown in tourists at local eateries between Valentine's Day and Spring Break and encouraged local residents to eat out if their bank accounts can afford it. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 'We need the community to really support their favorite eateries, their favorite restaurants, their favorite bakeries, their favorite coffee shops, support them because this is when the restaurants really need the support,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House to close, Aloha lives on: What's next for Uncle Clay
AINA HAINA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Many local businesses are still feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and even beloved local shops are not immune. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news KHON2 took a closer look at the challenges Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha faced in their last week of business and what is ahead. Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha served its first shaved ice in Aina Haina back in 2011. Uncle Clay and his nephew Bronson Chang found enough success to open a second store in Ala Moana in 2018. 'And then once the pandemic hit, it was, you know, ghost town,' Chang said. 'So that was the sign for us to close that house and that chapter of the story.' Beloved ʻĀina Haina shaved ice spot closing at end February The business model pivoted several times to deal with losses from Ala Moana along with rising inflation and increasing minimum wage. Federal, State and County grants could only help so much. 'We looked at ways that we could sell other items and not rely so much on our staff to generate revenue,' Chang said. 'We paid minimum wage as the starting, and that's the best we could do.' Uncle Clay said he is grateful to have made it as far as he did and added that he has always been a David in a world of Goliaths. 'If you really truly believe in what you're doing, those Goliaths can be taken down,' he said. 'But we owe it to every single person that has entered our home, which becomes their home away from home, no matter one time or a thousand times.' The latest data from the Small Business Administration shows almost 4,000 establishments closed in Hawaii between March 2022 and March 2023 compared to over 5,500 that opened. Uncle Clay said House of Pure Aloha will serve its last shaved ice on Monday, Feb. 24 but there is always hope for another venture in the future. 'I see it as the stepping stone, the springboard,' he said. 'Will be followed by a chapter that's in the making right now, we don't know exactly how that's going to happen, when it's going to happen, but we have every confidence in the world that it will happen.' Check out more news from around Hawaii Uncle Clay's will be open daily until their last day of business, for more information and ways to support Uncle Clay and Bronson as they finish off this chapter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beloved ʻĀina Haina shaved ice spot closing at end February
HONOLULU (KHON2) — ʻĀina Haina residents and visitors will say a final mahalo to Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha, a beloved shaved ice spot known for its vibrant and all-natural homemade closure marks the end of nearly three decades of servicing the East Honolulu community, sharing classic Hawaiian shaved-ice flavors since 2011. Uncle Clay's dream began at just five years old when he was determined to own the former crack seed and candy shop 'Doe Fang.' He accomplished his goal in 1996. Popular all-you-can-eat McCully restaurant to close in February Doe Fang was later reimagined into 'Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha' to bring shaved ice to the next level. Even though every journey must end, HOPA hopes to continue to share that Pure Aloha does not come to an end. 'We are proud of the impact our sincere efforts have made–from big and small to seen and unseen ways–by creating a space dedicated to our vision of 'One World 'Ohana Living Pure Aloha,' Uncle Clay and his nephew, Bronson, shared in a social media post. Top 10 best New Orleans inspired foods for Hawaiʻi's Big Game parties this weekend Uncle Clay and Bronson paid special tribute to everyone in the community who made Uncle Clay's what it is today. Our community of supporters–locals and visitors, keiki to kupuna, and from every walk of life–who have enjoyed our special treats and shared sincere smiles and sentiments. Day by day, through every season, you encouraged and empowered this Pure Aloha small business, dream, and calling to be and become what it is today. You all made this possible. Uncle Clay and Bronson, co-owners of Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha The business announced its final day of service is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24 Hawaiʻi's top 10 to do, see, eat at Punahou Carnival this weekend Until then, they will celebrate their final month through 'Pure Aloha Forever: Celebrating Uncle Clay's HOPA,' to honor the legacy, impact and make way for new possibilities. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'From the bottom of our hearts, MAHALO NUI LOA for being part of this incredible journey. May we come together to complete this chapter with love, gratitude and joy, and carry the spirit of Pure Aloha into the future.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
