![]() (Photo: Mer Norwood) Journey from surviving to thriving The “Hawaiian Fried Rice” and “Orange Chicken” at Zen Thai Cafe. You work hard, you get what you want,” she said. “I don’t think being Asian is a disadvantage. But she’s careful not to label herself as a victim. Nationally, the number of AAPI business owners (both men and women) is estimated to have decreased by more than a quarter since the start of the pandemic. In a 2021 survey, AAPI small-business owners cited access to capital as their number one challenge, in addition to the wave of anti-Asian sentiment and hate incidents, all of which have heavily impacted owners’ ability to operate. The pandemic disproportionately harmed women of color, and Asian women, in particular, endured some of the harshest economic effects of the crisis, according to the Center for American Progress. Unfortunately, her story of struggle was not uncommon across the U.S. Zen Thai Cafe offers an extensive menu of Vietnamese coffees, boba teas, cocktails, classic Thai dishes, and some Asian-American favorites. But despite her best efforts, she said she finally had to sell her house to keep the restaurant afloat. McAuley got creative – applying for loans, and grants, changing up the menu and the hours, and applying for the City’s temporary outdoor permit. This is the only thing I have for myself and my daughter.” “Every day I wake up, I ask myself, whatever happens, I got to do my best. “I decide to cook by myself, clean by myself, just to keep the restaurant running,” she said. It came down to the impossible choice between saving her business and supporting her employees. The forced shutdown followed by coronavirus-related restrictions slowed business to nearly a halt. She said the hardest part was laying people off. People started to not come in because they were scared.” “We got hit first because we are an Asian restaurant. (Photo: Kyle Niemier) Strength and resilienceĪfter opening, McAuley poured everything into her business and was just starting to get it off the ground when the pandemic hit. Rachel McAuley, owner-operator of Zen Thai Cafe, pours a drink behind the bar. The bustling sidewalks, street art, nightlife, and light rail running past make having a restaurant Downtown feel like “an honor.” “I love Downtown because – look at this!” she said, motioning out the window. The result was Zen Thai Cafe, which grew in popularity among students from ASU Downtown and the Phoenix Biomedical Core, business professionals, and convention travelers. Blending some of Tom Yum’s classic dishes with her own creations, she rebranded with her own concept in 2018. Without skipping a beat, she refocused on Downtown Phoenix. McAuley purchased the business in 2017, formerly known as Tom Yum Thai Restaurant, after Zen Culinary in Scottsdale – her first project – shuttered after less than a year. Yet AAPI women were one of the fastest-growing demographics of entrepreneurs prior to the pandemic. Rachel McAuley is part of a small community of Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in Phoenix, just over 4 percent (compared to 6.5 percent nationally), according to the 2020 U.S. That’s the big memories with food for me.” That is the thing that’s shaped me to want to have everyone involved, you know, participating or connecting with each other. “Back home, you would just eat together…you shared everything together,” she said. Sometimes there were big celebratory events where the entire community would come together over food, sharing their favorite dishes. ![]() She said neighbors would often gather to hang out and share food while the kids would run around and play. It was a dream that started as a young child growing up in Thailand – a place where food, family, and community were inextricably linked. ![]() “The experience of eating good food, and to be happy, to hang out…for me, it fulfills the dream.” “I often call my customers ‘Zen family,’” she said. Whether she’s in the kitchen, behind the bar, or making rounds amongst the tables chatting with guests, her warm and inviting presence makes the Downtown Phoenix eatery feel like home - and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Chef Rachel McAuley greets everyone who walks into Zen Thai Cafe with a luminous smile.
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