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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 13, 2005 Jim Hajek of Bothell, Wash., holds up a sign showing which item is up for bid Tuesday during an auction of the contents of Kim�s Restaurant in Medford, which closed its doors May 31 after 55 years in business. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli A piece of Kim’s history By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune When the auctioneer pointed to a pastel green blender sitting in the dining room at Kim’s Restaurant among rows of microwaves and cash registers, 25-year-old Magen Fong eagerly held up her number to make a bid. Her deceased grandfather, Henry Fong, one of the Chinese-American restaurant’s founders, had taught her to make milkshakes with the machine when she was a child. "I’m shaking," Fong said. "I just spent $165 on that blender. I didn’t think they had it anymore. They just found it in the attic." The blender was one of thousands of items from the restaurant sold at auction Tuesday. The remainder will be sold in an open sale at 10 a.m. today. Advertisement After a 55-year run, the restaurant closed its doors May 31, leaving behind an accumulation of ornate decorations, dishes, furniture and kitchen equipment. The 24,000-square-foot restaurant with two dining rooms, lounge, banquet room and parking lot is on the market for $4.75 million. The Medford landmark along South Pacific Highway was established in September 1950 by Henry and Betty Fong; Hang "Papa" and Sun Noon Moon "Mama" Lee; and Canton and Gene Lee Sheu. The founders’ children took over the restaurant but recently decided to close, tired from the demands of a food service business, Betty Fong said. Tuesday’s auction of the business’ remnants was emotional for the families. "It’s hard to see everything auctioned off," Betty Fong said. People came from all over Jackson County and out of state for the auction. For some, the event was a business affair. Grants Pass resident Ryan Terrell was on the hunt for items to sell on the Internet. He spent $62.50 on a wet vacuum. "It’s just an auction to me," he said. Others came to get mementos and remember the time they had spent at the restaurant. Longtime customers Steve and Betty Drew waited for a set of pink teacups and a Kim’s platter to go on the auction block. "We want it because it says ‘Kim’s’ and ‘Medford, Ore.’ on it," Betty Drew said. "We loved it here." Steve Drew had his first taste of Chinese food at the restaurant shortly after it opened. "My mom wanted to introduce me to Chinese food," Steve Drew said. "I had pea pod chow yuck. I thought it was great because as a kid I mostly had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches." Phoenix resident Lea Alfinito, a 12-year customer, had her heart set on the teak Kwan Yin statue, the centerpiece and namesake for the restaurant’s bar and lounge. "This is such a massive auction," Alfinito said. "It’s unusual in that it has a lot of artifacts. I just wonder whether they know the value of it." Alfinito lost out to another bidder who offered $1,800. Joann Hurley came from Washington state to purchase furniture and kitchen equipment for a deli she plans to open in Kent. "My dad and I wanted to open the deli, but he passed away," Hurley said. "I’m going to do it in his name." The deli will be called Chuck’s Daily Spread for Hurley’s father, Charles "Chuck" McCarty. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4496 or e-mail A piece of Kim�s history ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s