While growing up, South Harbour Fish & Gift Shop in Richmond was the last place on earth Wilson Chiu wanted to work.
The Steveston store, on No. 1 Road south of Moncton Street, has been owned and run by Chiu’s mother, Deborah, since 1997.
By 8:30 a.m., seven days a week, you’d find Deborah bustling around, hauling fish and getting the store ready to welcome customers.
That all changed on Mother’s Day.
Despite a lifetime of doing everything to avoid following in his mother’s footsteps, on Sunday, Chiu bought the store from his mother, with a vow to take over the family business.
“Like a lot of typical Asian mothers, my mom didn’t say too much (when he told her she could retire). But I saw tears in her eyes and I know she feels so proud of me.”
Chiu told the Richmond News that for as long as he remembers, his mother rarely hired anyone, preferring him as her number one employee – much to Chiu’s chagrin.
“Every day after school, I was there to close the store. During the weekends and holidays, I was asked to help out. In my teens and early 20s, my greatest fear was that I would end up working at my mom’s seafood shop for the rest of my life.”
To guard against that fate, Chiu studied and schemed, to ensure he had a career that had nothing to do with fish mongering. He became a realtor.
However, when he became a father of two boys, his attitude changed. He realized that parenting is no mean feat and began to appreciate his mother’s contribution to the family as a whole.
“My mother is like 110 pounds and every day she is lifting a lot of fish, and they are so heavy, but she does it all by herself. She is the type of person that always keeps working and that’s why the store is open seven days a week.
Looking back, Chiu regrets is surly attitude.
“I was very young and immature. I did not help the way I would now. I feel very guilty about that,” said Chiu.
On Mother’s Day, Chiu used his savings to buy the store to “honour his mother’s contributions to the whole family ” and “force” her to start enjoying a well-deserved retirement.
And now, the thought of walking in his mother’s footsteps is not just acceptable, it’s an honour.
“I have conquered my teenage fear, and now I am happy to work at the store with my friend to continue to serve the community.”
