Help my business stay open to serve the community

My name is Brenda Tran. I am the owner of Vietnam Cafe located in Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines.

It very hard for me to share this with you, but because the future of my business is threatened, I have to share with you all the challenges of my business right now.

On April 26,1986, I arrived in Des Moines from Việt Nam with my Mom and my 4 other siblings. We lived one mile from Merle Hay Mall till now, I love this Mall and this neighborhood.

My dream was to own a restaurant to bring my food, my culture to everyone here in Des Moines and everyone else in the United States passing by Iowa.

In 2010, I took all of my IPERS funds from the job I had worked for 18 years at Broadlawns Hospital to start my business in Merle Hay Mall with support from my father. Then my father had a heart attack passed away suddenly right before my restaurant opened.

I continued with my dream, even though the mall was already slow then , and I hoped my food would brighten up the mall. And I have worked very hard. I work 7 days a week, 12-14 hours per day.

I spend most of my time in this business, away from my 4 kids, hoping that I will be setting up a better future for my children.

I have spent 12 years of my life at Merle Hay Mall to build my restaurant. I’m so proud of all of my achievements , and I got all your love and support that helped me survive till today.

In 2020, in order to survive the pandemic time, I borrowed $100,000 in SBA loans with 30 years payment. To keep my business open till now. I have even opened a boutique, hoping that will help my restaurant, but it’s not working like the way I planned it.

At this moment, I’m trapped like “ a chicken with no way out”. The store closures necessitated for the promised ice arena which has yet to materialize further decreased mall traffic. The food court feels abandoned.

I have tried running specials and have also restarted my monthly buffet on the last Friday of the month. It runs from 11:00 - 7:30 and costs $15.95 per person. But it is not enough to help me dig out.

I’m tied down here with a 5-year lease signed 6 months ago, with a 50 percent rent increase, but customers have decreased drastically, so now I don’t make enough income to cover the new rent amount. I am behind on two months of rent, and currently I owe the mall nearly $10,000! In order for the mall to lower my rent, I have to pay off my past due.

Because of the conditions in the mall, most of the business in the front of the mall with door access to the mall are closed . We barely get any customers to support our business.

I want my business to stay open to serve our community, and the Merle Hay Mall needs my business here.

It’s not easy for me to do this, but I am asking for your help, and I am asking the community in the Des Moines and Urbandale area to help my business get through this tough time so I can continue to serve you. Please visit my restaurant often, and please consider making a donation to help keep us afloat and reduce the cost of the lease. To make it easy to donate, I asked someone to set up a Go Fund Me account at this link:

Every little bit and every dollar you can spare will help. And please come support my Brenda boutique next to California nails near the food court.

My achievements is someday I will have a real restaurant with entertainment on the weekends to help everyone relax after long week of working.

My staff and I appreciate the kindness of you all!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Brenda Tran

Owner of Vietnam Cafe