TOLEDO, Ohio — Beyond the charred facade of the Colonial Village shopping plaza is the hope that 5 long-standing businesses in the South Toledo area can eventually reopen for business.
One of those businesses is a Chinese restaurant called Rice King - in business for 22 years, built on the shoulders of two immigrants from Fujian, China.
Dave and Jessica Zheng opened the restaurant in 2003 after immigrating to the United States in 1990. The couple spent 7 years in New Jersey before settling in Northwest Ohio.
"We love our community. We've been serving for that many years. Sometimes my customers come in and they're like my family. Beyond that. Beyond that," said co-owner Jessica Zheng.
She and her husband have built a following through the years - and you can count South Toledo resident Jill Byrd among them.
"We lived down the street for 10 years now, and we ordered this once or twice a week to go. I don't have to cook," said Byrd who lives within walking distance of the restaurant with her husband.
Their go-tos at Rice King- at least twice a week for the last decade - beef with broccoli and almond boneless chicken. The idea that the weekly tradition could fade into memory was a lot to take in for Byrd and her family.
"They all come together in devastation and I just think it's great, you know. Everybody's got their own problems right now, but when devastation like this happens, the community comes together and rallies," said Byrd.
Byrd organized a fundraiser for the owners of Rice King taking place all day on Monday at La Fiesta Mexican restaurant in Maumee. 20 percent of the restaurant's sales at its Reynolds Road location on Monday, will be donated to the owners of Rice King.
Whether that number at the end of the day is a lot or a little, the owners at Rice King are thankful.
"It's an amazing feeling, seriously. It's a feeling that just really heartwarming. Knowing that they are there for us. You know, it's special," said Dave Zheng. "The plan is to rebuild and to reopen asap."
Byrd also organized an online donation campaign through Go Fund Me.