Joo Cho and Sandra Cho

00:05 My name is Sandra Cho. I'm 49 years old today is Halloween Tuesday, October 31st, 2017. I am at the Atlanta History Center and I'm here with my father j h Cho dad my name is Drew huncho.

00:26 I made it two years old and today is it Tuesday and October 31st 1770 in Halloween. You have to be location. We are in Atlanta History Center and I'm with my daughter Sandra. Okay, Dad. So this is the fifth time we've been here and when we left off last week you were in DC you had started working at the second Hotel. They're after arriving from Korea. So I'd like to move forward. I'd like to if you would tell us how you got to Augusta, Georgia where I was born.

01:14 Well before that.

01:20 They are making sure but the hotel, you know, the world is a very famous hotel. So I met Laura important people over there and

01:35 I really been very fortunate that they helped me that Soto Paving my way, you know, and the reason I went to Augusta.

01:50 Is because the first of all the stone starting the general of the president of the World hotel passed away and he was like my man behind and after he passed away. There's no reason to stay there.

02:11 Show up.

02:14 Well, let me ask you this in terms of mom and Philip mental it was born in Seoul Korea. So you came to the United States and it took what three years before they came here two years to years. And so when you left Philip was an infant 8 months old or whatever. And so then it took you two years to save enough money to bring them here. How long were they with you in Washington before you moved to Augusta? How much time did you spend in Washington before you moved to Augusta careers? Okay. And then how did you pick Augusta, Georgia where all places?

03:02 The Augusta Georgia. I never trust a Georgia but the the left of the willow Hotel. I used to know the millionaire from Grease. He came here United States when he was a very young and

03:27 Self made man and he wasn't the peanuts at the Murphy store. I don't know whether we still have Murphy store in the country, but that was like a that was like a department store like Sears and he wasn't selling peanuts at the entrance of a morphe store.

03:51 And he made money and finally he opened up the bank with the here's a portrait outside that number on Highway in Virginia. And he's nice by the way, Tom and Rose and

04:12 I met him.

04:14 When I was working at the hotel, and he was impressed of me.

04:20 Because of his son.

04:23 Was didn't didn't work. We didn't have a thought and so he was impressive me.

04:31 And fond of me.

04:34 And he suggested that I should have stopped the business.

04:41 You know even in Korea but the special in the United States, how can I do any business without any experience but that he said that you could do it because you are a hard-working and it all day or night try to you know, keep up settle down and he said I'll help you if you want to do it, you know at that time the McDonald's McDonald's hamburger. We drove around Washington Street of Washington Alexander, Virginia, and we saw that golden arches at night bright yellow golden arches. I didn't even know what that was. And I did ask him. What is that? He said that's call McDonald's.

05:41 Hamburger place

05:43 And up

05:46 Next day, you said maybe you might want a franchise one of those first of all Koreans and the America here.

06:03 Quite different because when you and somebody is working at McDonalds like that you for example you if you want to get married if your father works at McDonald's you might have a trouble to private man, but over here is different.

06:25 So he took me to Arlington local McDonald's.

06:31 And he didn't come inside. He told me just go in and take a look inside the store and happened to be in the rush hour. I guess. You're our people lined up and I saw

06:45 And when I came out

06:48 I wasn't quite sure whether I could do it with my pride. You know that I don't know. I wasn't sure.

06:58 But he we talked about no you going to bring to your family so you have to be successful.

07:10 And not just working somewhere and all you know, you're not going to pray for yourself. Yeah look for myself. And so

07:22 I don't know how much it cost to franchise McDonald's now. I'm sure it's over by that time was a $20,000 really 1964-66 6666 $20,000 and the golden arches says

07:44 Obama 2 million serve, that's right.

07:52 So I decide to do that and

07:58 So how you say send me the Chicago?

08:01 The they have a McDonald's headquarters there.

08:07 So I went there and

08:10 DeSoto betraying, you know Management training how to run the stores and how long was the training? What month? Wow, okay.

08:23 And you know, he Chicago there's a hotel called save some money right but I didn't have to spend any money of my own money. He provided all the expense and recall have make sure you had saved over the two years you work in DC.

08:50 What I don't remember in dollar amount, but all I know is that every paycheck. I guess I went to straight to the wrecked National Bank and I that's a ride next block. They did to the White House and I just kept deposit put into a savings account.

09:12 I just spent a single dime. Give me a call away with that paycheck was for the amount that time paycheck was $70 a week. Wow. Okay. Yeah so weak.

09:30 And

09:33 Of course later, I got raised because of mister mister Cielo on Stine and but it was just started with the 70.

09:45 But anyway, the McDonald's.

09:49 The Chicago

09:53 They said see I told you.

09:57 I was a first one all was involved with the something as a foreigner.

10:07 And nobody ever had a McDonald franchise outside the American citizen.

10:15 I was at first very first.

10:18 And they ask you are an American citizen by then.

10:25 Well about from other country and they were asking. In fact, I wasn't a citizen I had to permanent resident ship that was all and

10:42 They McDonald's headquarters ask. Can you speak English? You know, so the whoever was there said what he speaks better than I do. So so they sort of approved, you know, and then mr. Andrews pay their $20,000 and they gave me the location one in Augusta, Georgia and one in Syracuse, New York.

11:20 Whichever I want to go and of course, I never been there either places and about the mister and Rose suggest that Augusta. Georgia is warm weather and Syracuse is very cold. So I recommend you go down to Augusta.

11:44 Show it to franchise one in Augusta, and he drove me down. We went down the Gaza together.

11:53 And who is he from was a from Greece but he lived in the Alexandria, Virginia. Well because he likes his time and money and because of his back royalties, you know, he must had a very hardship, you know as he was settling down as he gets older but that he was very successful selling the peanuts became millionaire and now he's a banker. I'm in know. How old was he when you met him? I think he was in his sixties eye. He was older at the time. It was 60, so

12:38 Without him you cannot how can I franchise a McDonald's or Baskin-Robbins or whatever, how can you do that without Capital? You know, so he paid everything and sohrab are we became partner?

12:57 And I'm the one run the place and he lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

13:04 And

13:05 By the way, they thought they had the the the the man ran the place before me and he didn't do the good job. So they lost a lot of money. What was the location? Where was it? Augusta 25 Highway 25, South Augusta.

13:30 And the location was not really good location, but the but anyway at the time when it to McDonald's in Augusta one across the street from Sears around the medical complex, so that day that was a good location, but I was kind of outside are there add yasso, but we had a tourist come to from Florida to North wherever they go and every time I pass by they stopped right, bye-bye. So they remember that every year and but anyway, I had to I Walk Hard you wouldn't believe how hard we worked.

14:21 Seven day and night

14:24 No day off. No bake. Nothing. How long did you run that for 6 years 6 years for 6 years and because I built up the business and the company wanted by back. Oh, I didn't realize they did that company wanted by back.

14:46 And we discussed you know.

14:50 And I didn't want to keep doing that.

14:54 Because first of all, the problem is McDonald's policy at the time no female employees who have a business is stop someone hire only Mayo no female.

15:19 So, how could you find the male Orca during the rush lunch rush hour?

15:26 Launch Tinder lunch hour is the only Rush Hour dinner is only a few no, no no business, but you had to open stay open until 11 at night.

15:41 But the so I had the trouble with the hiring the people employees which means I have to do a lot of things myself. I wasn't sweating after lunch or my shirt I could squeeze you guys anyway in the business whole lot easier because everything is a machine even french fries ready to put in the private at the time. You have to slice the russet potato. I'd really you have to slice of homemade slice and you know washed all the the starch and bleach it and then finish Fry That French why you cannot find it today it is so cool.

16:40 But anyway, so six years later.

16:44 We decided to sell.

16:48 I forgot how much we sold that.

16:52 Maybe a hundred thousand how much did mr. Andrews get of the hundred thousand? Of course, I got the healthy bonus, you know on the Saturday.

17:11 I think I got about $40,000 out of it.

17:17 40000

17:19 And then of course I saved and we moved into bigger house there at the house, you know nearby.

17:28 And then what?

17:31 I can just stay home.

17:34 And I got to I got to do something.

17:39 One day I was a passing by the Daniel Village shopping center, which is the best shopping center in Augusta. That's great. In fact mrs. Eisenhower stop by Bob Hope stop by James Brown after play the master and if so,

18:04 Mrs. Sanders call Sanders Governor former governor and you know, he got the law firm here.

18:13 Mr. Sanders Barry Sanders franchise the Baskin-Robbins ice cream in that Daniel Village shopping center

18:25 I don't know why she did.

18:27 They lived in no, you know you're living in Atlanta.

18:33 But that they used to own the you know that Duncan jobs in the Eagleton Court where I had a lot myself right now or later Best Value Inn in Augusta.

18:47 So

18:52 Betty Sanders decide to sell their franchise to somebody

18:58 Did you know I was a number for first owner of that store? Okay, each previous three owners. They never showed up the place just to let the teenagers run. So can you imagine the place is a filthy yet? They had a big box store gas and Wanted movie theater was right there. So people would always come before and after and I was passing by

19:38 And I thought maybe have a scoop of ice cream. I didn't even know the name of all the flavors 31 Flavors. I just walked in trying to walk into open the door couldn't even step in.

19:52 Wow, so good and it was a pretty big store too. So I stepped back and I'm not going to wait for scoop of ice cream, you know, how long and on the way home? I thought we were leaving then they had to drive past by CC Johnson's in a Park Avenue nice area. And as you know, we had a nice home.

20:16 And on the way home in 5 program sissy Johnson's house. I thought about maybe I approach that the owner.

20:29 And by that store

20:35 So I checked his background. The man man was a not honest person. In fact, I think he was in jail.

20:46 Whatever. Recording deal he didn't register though anything. But anyway.

20:54 I checked around and the Columbus Georgia of the mr. Connect. Connect Dairy. They were making Baskin-Robbins ice cream for South Eastern State and that deliver once a week.

21:11 And I missed a pop pill is a local realtor.

21:16 And I got to know him real well and miss the pop pill.

21:24 We discussed about that and he took me to the Atlanta and started and then contact the

21:33 Mystikal net in the Columbus Georgia and I got the store but that time the store you could franchises to $35,000 without knowing brand new store or the existing stores without knowing whether this storms going to be a good store or the terrible like overstuffed. Hello and

22:04 $35,000 but this man the Daniel Village the one I like.

22:11 What is $70,000 twice as much? Wow, and the Baskin-Robbins franchise in fact Druid Hill Circle over here?

22:24 Franchises of the Almond the manager said no Baskin-Robbins episode that much.

22:34 That is a really too much but it's up to you if you want to buy if you want to pay that.

22:42 You know you could and I will give you that franchise.

22:48 And I try to figure that out if I sold the house.

22:53 Augusta

22:55 And then moved to Atlanta. There's a storm though. I went into the wieuca road nearby here.

23:05 The two boys were sitting on the counter and no customers place was filthy no business, but you got to pay $35,000.

23:19 And then you have to buy the new house here somewhere and relocate children school and everything. So I figured it out even if I pay twice as much $70,000.

23:33 I think it would be a whole lot better.

23:36 By then of course people all the people prominent people in Augusta. They knew who we were, you know, and so I think it was a better deal. Just go ahead and pay him $70,000.

23:52 And I borrowed the difference.

23:56 $30,000 from the bank Georgia World Bank and the chairman of the board, you know, the Charlie Presley and who am I didn't have no credit and they they trust me so good. They gave me money and we took over the store.

24:18 And though it was so filthy. I couldn't even sleep that night and I went out there for the morning for the vacuum cleaner dipping cabinet have a compressor have a grill over there grills are all jammed up with the dust right? So you got to circulate there, but I saw that I couldn't sleep that night. So I went out this Focalin the more with the vacuum cleaner. I just cleaned up all that thing and then

24:54 And then ever since that store of Court living cabinet is just cleaned spotless friendly and turn out to be the biggest star in the country. And we did tell the most times of ice cream. It was it was a gold mine. It was a great storm on so will let me ask you this with respect to mr. And Rose after you and he sold the McDonald's back to McDonald's did your relationship end with him? Cuz I've never heard of him before we even stay in touch, but the at the few years later he passed away and he didn't have a few years later. Never heard of him before.

25:46 Well, we did talk about the you know, how we started McDonald's right? And

25:52 So I had a lot of people like him. Yes, you were there and everybody are very lucky. I had to miss the only Stein and you know people like that they all helped me out. In fact.

26:13 $30,000 borrowing from the bank without the collateral.

26:19 You know what that is really something. Mr. Presley asked me he told me I know you going to pay me back.

26:28 Just in case you just buy $30,000 insurance term life insurance in case something happened to me, you know, your beneficiaries of Georgia Royal Bank your mother or anybody else.

26:51 So, of course we pay back.

26:55 And then, you know, I do know any anyting.

26:59 What about we make I could save and we had that store. Who is it over 20 years 18 years and then you went on to open two more stores. Well tomorrow stores in Augusta Augusta, and then we sold those three girls are because of that the store was a such a successful store.

27:24 And people one of the franchisee

27:31 The a lot of people wanted to buy but I sold to Charlie my sand and then we went out the Hilton Head.

27:41 Of course. We were very comfortable by Dan, you know both almost million dollars House Hilton Head.

27:52 And

27:54 Because I was such a good franchise e

28:00 And California, Burbank, California the main office.

28:05 They knew me and anyway, I want I could have a store.

28:11 So I want to go down to Hilton Head Hilton Head is a whole island is my territory.

28:21 So when they build the shopping center right in the middle of the island 278 Rexford shopping center. Wendy's hamburger was there and all the upper end ladies stores and she wasn't

28:46 And I bought my own building.

28:51 Read them. Keep pay the rent.

28:55 So

28:59 Because of a Island Resort, I could charge twice as much per scoop, you know a McDonalds. When he did that everybody is doing that. Otherwise winter time you you going to be starving so

29:22 Add

29:26 The man bought the store in Augusta, by the way, she was so impressed the way I did.

29:37 He came to my house and he bought the house to as you remember.

29:44 He bought the house he bought the stores and he came down the Augusta. I mean the the Hilton Head and he wanted to buy that the store he want to buy the building. She want to buy the house and he bought a car.

30:05 He just because he knew how well we kept.

30:11 So he bought he bought me out. He just followed me. So.

30:19 So when you think of, you know, you're you're 82 now and you think of you know, the first installment of the storycorps we talked about how you know, you escaped basically, you know during the war so and when you think about that and then you think about you know your life now did it turn out much better than you thought or did you have any idea of how you wanted it to turn out other than to be successful comfortable. I didn't have any idea how the results going to be able to even think that far ahead or did you just have to say one thing? I knew.

31:05 My grandfather was a really hard worker. I always think about my grandfather.

31:12 My father was a bone with his mouth, but my grandfather on the other hand he worked so hard.

31:27 So I wasn't thinking about my grandfather.

31:32 And if I do everything like what he told me what he did what I saw.

31:41 I knew I would be.

31:43 Successful, whatever I do.

31:48 Would you believe horrible several thousand stores throughout the country? I was number one. Yes. I remember. I remember it was incredible. I made all four of your children work in that store from a very young age. No, such thing as child labor convention franchisees and they choose a nice resort in the area to get together like

32:22 The Orlando what is the world Disney Disney World?

32:27 And then like a Hilton Head and

32:31 And one time at the Stone Mountain not so much the what mountain is that this house of Pine Mountain? Mr. Calloway in Pine Mountain.

32:50 We had a connection over there.

32:56 And at the meeting

33:00 The vice president of the Baskin-Robbins came from the California and he went up to the podium. And first thing he said was I want I want you all to meet special bad. I didn't know what who he was talking about.

33:21 And he said that

33:24 Man from Augusta, Georgia stand-up have boy. I sure you were a kind of caught off guard and he said this is the one

33:42 May the store of

33:47 Adjust the number one volume store

33:52 And in fact too easy to explain they deliver once a week depends on the according to their volume to your owner owned by the older the ice cream and how many tubs 3-gallon pug tops and most stores they just order.

34:19 What about a hundred times a week even less? Nobody orders like a hundred fifty times like that? Yes, Stop. 303 that's amazing the time the next delivery.

34:44 The the truck driver they have a key install because they go everywhere so they don't know what time they going to ride so they have the key.

34:55 And they just stack up in the walk-in freezer.

35:01 Every last day of the day before the delivery, we scraped hubs and put all in the dipping cabinet.

35:14 And leave the I tried to save you been a penny.

35:19 Turn up the freezer completely.

35:22 So overnight it turned off. I don't know how much you say but the whole year. I'm sure you know that the driver called in the driver. He came in one morning.

35:41 Freezer was a open door was open and he thought we been robbed gas. Am I came in to steal all our ice cream, you know, so but I left a note to the driver, please after you stock up turn on the switch.

36:02 And he knows where the switches what was

36:06 That's how we did.

36:10 Everybody they were surprised. I mean they were surprised so compared to McDonald's, you know, Sarai single Idaho potatoes in 500 lb every morning.

36:25 This is nothing I could run that place with the one hand right because ice cream's ready. All you need is to take out from the freezer. Living cabinet remove the cover and then scoop. That's all you do. You don't make ice cream yourself, right? So how easy it is easy as pie that you worked and you and Mom work 7 days a week, of course, but we were young and of course you all went to private schools.

37:07 We living in the really nice neighborhood ever since we've been like that, especially if we were able to move down the Hilton Head.

37:21 That was a really big step for me.

37:28 And we were very lucky to found quality home the man built only over million dollar home by the name of calm until he built the house and you know Hilton Head a shoreline the program that shows a full times a day on TV two of two tourist you so our house is in that show learn program sort of the landmark the yard a show like a the

38:09 The Harbour Town

38:12 And then, you know nice homes like mine.

38:17 Yeah, I was very proud of that time.

38:21 Well, we are you know at the end of this session it goes by so quickly, you know, but there is no doubt that you your ambition your dedication your determination your youth, you know, maybe hearing your grandfather's voice in your head. There's no doubt that all of those no helped you become the success that you are and I I really appreciate it. I want to thank you so much. So

38:53 So I hear ya. I want to thank you and very very fortunate. Yes. You have been we all have been and it's all because of you and Mom push me stop to stop you are very fortunate to to meet the people you did, but I want to thank you Dad. Thank you very much.