K. K. Discount

KK Discount Store is often called the mom-and-pop version of Target in Chinatown. They sell a variety of goods, from carbon steel woks and rice cookers to shopping carts and mahjong sets. Ken Li and his wife, the owners of KK Discount, immigrated from Hong Kong in 1978 with only a few dollars to their name. They came to America hoping to give their children a better life than they had back home.

Working 12 to 15 hours a day, the couple eventually saved enough to open KK Discount in 1990. Stores like KK Discount are essential, providing culturally relevant goods at affordable prices to vulnerable elderly residents who often face language and financial barriers at mainstream stores.

78 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10013