June 9, 2020
The GoFundMe page link is at the bottom of this article
This heartbreaking story comes directly from the son of the owners, Joseph Duong of Beach Jewelry Center, which was ransacked and destroyed on May 31, 2020.
“My parents are the hardest working people I know. They work 6 days a week without ever complaining, and rarely do they ever take a vacation. All they ever wanted was to provide for me and my sister without asking for anything in return.”
“My dad first started working as a jewelry repair man in a pawn shop and saved up until he was able to open up his own shop as Anthony’s Jeweler back in the 80’s at the late Long Beach Mall. We eventually settled on 3rd and Pine for our current home of 17 years under Beach Jewelry Center.”
“This was the American Dream, and on May 31st, 2020, it became a nightmare. 30 years worth of blood, sweat, and tears were put into organically nourishing this third child of theirs, only to see it perish within the 2 hrs it took to loot the place.”
“I couldn’t bring myself to tell my parents after being first on the scene. Eventually, I drew up the courage to tell my dad and saw that his hand was shaking uncontrollably while he’s trying to fully process the information. The news was going to break my mom. It was safe to say, neither of us slept that night.”
“I used to always hate going to the shop every summer. I felt like I wasn’t able to have a fulfilling summer like other kids as I’m always there helping set up and closing the shop. Now I wish I was able to help out more often, or once in a while ask how their day was when they came home.”
“I’m sure this wasn’t how they pictured going into retirement. They were looking forward to reopening after being closed since March due to Covid-19. Insurance will not even come close to relieve the physical, mental, or monetary strain this will unfortunate event will have caused. They deserved a better ending. However, it’s time for my sis and I to step up and hold it down. Don’t worry mom and dad, we got this.”
“I just want to thank everyone (friends, family, strangers) from the bottom of my heart who supported us during these troubling times. I will thank everyone personally when I see you.”
“If you would like to support or share, all donations will directly benefit my parents for the current relief of this situation.”
“In a world currently so divided, we need to subtract the hate, add the love, multiply with kindness, then maybe it’ll equal equality.”
The GoFundMe page for Beach Jewelry Center can be accessed by clicking HERE