Restaurants in Tacoma’s Lincoln District hit with vandalism, one a hateful phone call
Four businesses in Tacoma’s Lincoln District are picking up the pieces yet again after having their windows smashed Wednesday evening. One Vietnamese restaurant said it received a hateful phone call minutes before the vandalism.
Windows were broken at Vien Dong Restaurant, Tho Tuong BBQ and nonprofit FabLab Education between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. along South 38th Street, according to representatives from each business.
Kim Dung Salon at 770 S. 38th St. also had its windows broken, owners at Vien Dong said. The News Tribune was not able to reach a representative from the salon.
Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Wendy Haddow said South Sound 911 received a report about 7:30 p.m. from a representative for Vien Dong Restaurant who said a window had been broken and that the business had been the victim of a hate crime. Police did not receive reports of broken windows from the other businesses.
But photos posted to Instagram by Vien Dong Restaurant show shattered glass and large holes in each of the storefronts.
“In all of our 32 years of business we have yet to see so much hate in just one year,” the business said in the post. “In the span of one year, almost all businesses in the Lincoln District have been targeted and vandalized. We are enraged and tired of this constant and disgusting display of blatant racism.”
Kevin Le, 56, owns Vien Dong along with his wife, Linh Nguyen. The two have been in business since 1989. Nguyen, 48, said she received a phone call about 7:25 p.m. from someone who cursed at them and said “go back to your country.”
About five minutes later, Nguyen, 48, was ringing up a customer in the packed restaurant when she heard a loud bang.
“It was so loud. It was like a gunshot,” Nguyen said. “I was just like two or three feet away from the window.”
Nguyen said she didn’t see anyone break the window. The business has blinds installed.
About an hour later, a window was smashed at Tho Tuong BBQ, which was closed for the night. Owner Phuc Ngo, 53, said it’s the third time his windows have been broken.
In April, Tho Tuong BBQ was one of four businesses on the block dealing with broken windows and the feeling that Asian businesses were being targeted.
Police at the time said there was nothing to indicate the vandalism was tied to anti-Asian sentiment, but community members rallied around the businesses to raise money for repairs.
Later Wednesday evening, around 10 p.m., Nguyen said City Council member Catherine Ushka, who represents the area, and Marty Cambell, who represents District 5, came by to help sweep up debris.
On Thursday morning, Nguyen said students from Lincoln High School came by with flowers to show their support.
“We are so grateful for this community,” Nguyen said.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the agency that received a report from a Vien Dong Restaurant representative about a broken window and suspected hate crime.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
