December 23: China King

Leesburg’s China King being selected for a historic small restaurant grant is one of the many gifts of Loudoun this holiday season. This is one story in a series of 31 that highlight #LoudounPossible opportunities in the county. Check back every day in December to learn more!

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded a total of $1 million in grant funding to 25 small businesses across the United States through the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” grant program. The grants were offered to restaurants located in historic districts that have been in operation for 25 years or more. Now in its second year, the program awarded each establishment $40,000 in funding to help improve the restaurants’ physical space and offered critical operating costs to improve customer service and grow business.

China King of Leesburg was one of those recipients.

In operation for nearly 50 years, China King – located on South King Street in Leesburg’s historic district – used the funds to update the façade, brightening the storefront that many people have grown to love over the past decades. China King was founded by Ken and May Mao in 1975; their relatives, the Whangs, purchased the restaurant in 1989. It remains a family-owned establishment in its second generation, run by sister-brother team Minday Schwanborg and Alan Whang. See the full Loudoun Now article that talks more about the grant and also lists all other recipients.

Looking for funding for your small business? Loudoun’s Department of Economic Development may be able to help. Check out the funding options we offer and contact us to see what we might be able to do for you!