Organization
Golden House Bakery
Golden House Bakery is a Cambodian American bakery in White Center, near Seattle, Washington, owned by Bunthy Thoeun and Pharin Kong.[1] With no Cambodian community center in the neighborhood, it has become a gathering place for Khmer residents.[1]
History
In 2005 Thoeun and Kong bought the business from another member of the Khmer community. It had been called Garden Donuts and sold only donuts and coffee. The new owners added Cambodian rice soup, sandwiches, Khmer BBQ skewers and bubble tea.[1] The shop was one of the later Cambodian businesses to open in White Center's retail core, in one of the largest Cambodian refugee communities in Washington state.[1]
Food
The counter serves coffee, donuts, papaya salad and Khmer BBQ lemongrass skewers.[1]
Community
Kong wanted a place where his group could gather and hold meetings.[1] In 2018 the Cambodian Cultural Alliance of Washington held its planning sessions there for the annual White Center Cambodian New Year Street Festival, while older members of the community met in another corner to talk about events in Cambodia.[1] "It's a place to meet and congregate, for Khmer people. There's no other place like it," said Oeuy Mak, a longtime regular.[1] Many customers are greeted by their first names, and the owners sometimes give food to people in need.[1]