Fred Hua, a former shoe salesman turned line cook, opened his first restaurant in 2008. Serving a mix of traditional and creative Vietnamese fare, he named his business Nhà Tôi (translation: "My House"). He ran that house, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, for five years, becoming a fixture in the neighborhood until unaffordable rent increases drove him to close down.
Seeking a more creative, community-oriented life, Hua partnered with two art-loving friends to open Nhà Minh (translation: "Our House"). Located in one of Brooklyn's warehouse districts, their venture is equal parts coffee shop, restaurant, and art gallery. While the simple strengths of Hua's cooking bring in enough cash to make the shop financially viable, their bi-monthly gallery openings demonstrate why the space exists at all.
1 Minute Meal is a micro-documentary series dedicated to capturing the many faces of New York City through the lens of food.
Are there restaurants, cafés, or other spaces that have become de facto community centers where you live? Tell us about them!
See what other Food52 readers are saying.