Comments on: At Chu’s Garage

By: Ron Bunting

Ron Bunting — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 09:54:29 +0000

I can relate to this Story too!. My Huguenot Ancestors escaped certain Death in France for being protestant and settled in that area of London. And lots of my other ancestors emigrated to other countries to begin new Lives (Four of them arrived in Australia in chains….) .But in the early 70’s when Veitnamese began to arrive off the coast in boats ,having sailed down from Veitnam in some of the Worst looking things to be ever called a boat, they were actually welcomed into New Zealand where I was living . Possibly because NZ took in a lot of refugees just after WW2 and most of us understood what it was to be forced from your home in an actual theater of war.
In this climate,my dad met a Vietnamese man who was looking for some equipment to start a bakery in Auckland. Dad sold him (cheaply) a bun divider and gave him a pile of other equipment which wasn’t being used,the chap having so little money .Many years later Dad and myself were in a bakery equipment supplier in Sydney,NSW when a chap approached Dad and said he knew him…It was the man who had been sold the bun divider and so on, and was now the owner of several bakeries in New Zealand and Australia .

By: Martin Barge

Martin Barge — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:39:02 +0000

I first met Quang and Jimmy Chu about four years ago, when I took my car to their garage for an MOT, and I have taken it there ever since.

Yesterday, I took my car to Chu’s, and after Quang and Jimmy had fixed the problem, Jimmy sent me the link to this page. What an amazing story! I knew that the Chu family were Vietnamese, but I didn’t know of their journey from Viet Nam, their time in China, their perilous voyage to Hong Kong, and their arrival and settlement in England. It would make a great film!

I know that Quang and Jimmy are very worried about Network Rail’s threats to hike the rent by up to 300%. They have told me that they don’t know how they will survive if the rent is increased. They are great mechanics, honest traders, and lovely, friendly people, and it is upsetting to see them so anxious about their livelihood.

In 2016/17, Network Rail reported a gross profit of £483,000,000. (See their annual report here: https://16cbgt3sbwr8204sf92da3xxc5m-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Network-Rail-Annual-report-and-accounts-2017.pdf)

£483m is quite a hefty profit by any standards, so surely their motive is greed. A greed that threatens put a small, much loved, family-run garage out of business. Network Rail must not be allowed to do this.

By: Fritz Catlin

Fritz Catlin — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:04:26 +0000

Thank you so much for this piece. I knew some of the Chus’ story but not in such depth .I was honoured to know Chuong Chu , a truly amazing man .
Absolutely the best garage in the area and good friends.

By: Cramer Rice

Cramer Rice — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:51:09 +0000

What an incredible story. I have been a customer of Mr Chu’s for many years now and he’s not only been hugely knowledgeable (he and Jimmy have keept my Audi running better than Audi itself!), professional and courteous but he’s also a gentleman. Always has time to talk and explain what ails your vehicle, unfailingly polite and he always brings a smile to my face with with his sense of humour and self deprecating mannner. I would recommend him to anyone. I intended to keep bringing my cars back to him as long as I’m still driving.

The situation they face courtesy of Network Rail is frankly outrageous. How a long standing and integral part of both the Hackney community and business landscape can be allowed to be in a position where they are essentially faced with leaving what is arguably their home, not only their livelihood, is beyond me. I urge anyone who reads this to support Mr Chu and his family in their efforts to remain where they have been serving the community professionally and competitively for over 30 years with all the means at their disposal. I for one will be behind them all the way.

London has and always will be a place where people can start again and triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds. To allow Network Rail to succeed and replace this fantastic garage and it’s wonderful people with another adonyne, faceless bar or restaurant that brings nothing to the local area would be a travesty.

I salute Mr Chu and his family and wish them all the very best for many years to come.

By: Nitesh Singh

Nitesh Singh — Wed, 24 May 2017 14:55:55 +0000

I’ve been going to Chu’s ever since I started driving! I’ve used others along the way, but Chu’s is the best, most reliable and most trustworthy garage in the area. It’s really sad to see Network Rail treat them like this, by trying to drive them out by hiking the rent. What an amazing family history of struggle, perseverance and legacy.

By: Paddy Keogh

Paddy Keogh — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 07:37:38 +0000

What a lovely hard working family,good luck to them in their battle with the greedy despicable Network Rail

By: Philip Marriage

Philip Marriage — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 20:12:38 +0000

A remarkable story, brilliantly told.

By: Marq Bailey

Marq Bailey — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 19:15:20 +0000

Having lived in SpitaLfields for many years and followed the gentle author’s tales and wanderlust around the deeper seams of this amazing community and society for half as long, I think that this story of Chu’s Garage sums and hails us to recognise the deep rooted community of London, a truly diverse and welcoming modern Byzantium for all. Given the appalling divisive and discrimatory forces that attempt to scourge our city, ‘Chu’s Garage’ is a resounding call to everything London holds dear and holds to its spirit and purpose.

By: Sparks

Sparks — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 11:19:39 +0000

What makes you so cross is that Network Rail were very glad for these small businesses to take the arches when no one else wanted them – if they want to put prices up then it should be for new customers but let established businesses keep them at the old cost for as long as they need them – it’s pure greed.

What an amazing family story, they have worked so hard and kept positive through great difficulties – they deserve much better treatment. I hope things turn out well for them.

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 10:44:58 +0000

I came across Mr Chu’s garage a couple of years ago and have used them a few times. On the first visit seeing the family cooking lunch on the gas burner made me think what a rare and happy thing a family business can be. Friendly, good service, nice people; if they are forced out, we should think about why it is we cannot protect and control our own community.