The Vong family became part of the White Center community more than 10 years ago when they opened the White Center Market in what is called Asiana Square on 15th Ave. s.w.

It's truly a family business run by Khinh Vong, and his brothers.

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Now opening, as the next step for the family and the community at 9988 15th Avenue s.w. is the anchor store of the new White Center Square, the Hung Long Asian Market.

Sky Vong, Khinh's son is the General Manager and his own history is part of the fabric here too. " I've been here for a long time. When I was little I used to play at the Salvation Army," he said and spoke with pride about the new 15,000 square foot facility, "White Center's never really had a complex like this before."

White Center Square is an $11 million project that utilizes a $6.25 million federal loan.

It's expected to create 60 new jobs in White Center. At a time of high unemployment, low income areas like White Center are in greater need.

"Every day since we broke ground (May 29, 2009) we've had at least four people come and ask us about jobs," Vong said.

Legislation approved by the King County Council last March authorized the King County Executive to borrow $6.25 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and re-lend those funds to the White Center Investment Fund, LLC. The legislation also pledged the County’s Community Development Block Grants funds as additional security for the loans. The White Center Square project also benefits from a federal tax credit.

The Hung Long Market is a full grocery store with meat, produce, and frozen food, but differs from the average store largely because of the community it serves. It offers all the standard fresh vegetables, and includes some items that are "instantly familiar to the Asian community," said Vong.

Just adjacent to that is an Asian deli featuring everything from Peking Duck to Barbecue Pork and will offer box lunches. They prepare their fried items with zero trans fat.

As an example of how they differ you'll find quail in the frozen food department, "It's pretty good actually," said Vong.

Obviously rice and noodles are part of the product mix but the store also offers fresh seafood such as live Tilapia, and lobster.

The large chilled beverage section features soft drinks, wine and beer and also many products that are, "Asian familiar," said Vong.

Directly to the southeast of the store is an asian cafe, expected to open in the next 30 to 60 days after they work out the menu and get all the systems at the store working as they would like. It will seat 65 people.

While they are now in a soft open phase, "We want everything to be just right when people get here," said Vong who expects the grand opening to take place in early December.

Elsewhere in the square are a bakery, clothing store, computer repair, an insurance company, hair salon, and a jewelry store, each in various stages of opening.