BLONG YANG
Chasing the American Dream
Blong Yang’s story is one of true, American success. The child of immigrants, Blong was born in Laos in 1970. His family fled the war-torn region at the end of the Vietnam War and ended up in a refugee camp in Thailand. Blong’s family lived there for several years until, when he was just 8 years old, Blong’s parents got a chance to send him to the United States. Even though they couldn’t be sure if they would ever see him again, they made that choice so Blong would have a shot at a better future.
His family was able to join him, first in downtown Chicago, then St. Paul, Minnesota, and finally putting down roots in Appleton in the 1980s. Blong graduated from Appleton West High School and went on to get a college degree at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
Blong met his wife, Shannon, in 1993. They have been married for 28 years and have two incredible children.
Blong has always been a hard-working entrepreneur, starting several small businesses over the years. Currently, he owns and operates Eggroll Inc, a beloved restaurant in Appleton.