About this location
A few stories people tell about this place
1. One morning, a little boy entered Chong Lee Market and started laughing uncontrollably when he saw the sign for ‘Specialty Rice’—it read: ‘Rice for Special Occasions.’ As he calmed down, an old lady approached him smilingly and asked if everything was okay. With tears of laughter still in his eyes, the boy pointed at the sign, explaining that it said 'Specialty Rice' but actually meant 'Rice for Special Occasions.' The whole market burst into laughter, and from then on, whenever someone bought rice, they joked about choosing the right occasion.
2. One day, an elderly gentleman entered Chong Lee Market and asked the cashier, ‘Excuse me, do you sell happiness here?’ The cashier smiled and replied, ‘We try our best!’ Since then, customers often wonder if they can really buy joy in that grocery store. One day, a delivery driver came in asking for something unusual—‘Do you have laughter in stock today?’ The cashier laughed and said, ‘Not officially, but sometimes it’s on sale when we’re busy.’ Ever since then, whenever someone buys bananas or apples, they leave with a smile.
3. In a quiet corner of Chinatown, Chong Lee Market had a reputation for its mysterious aisles. One afternoon, while a delivery driver was stocking shelves, he stumbled upon a strange package wrapped in old newspaper. Curious, he unwrapped it to reveal a tiny ceramic dragon that seemed to be watching him with knowing eyes. The delivery driver placed the little dragon on a shelf and continued his work. Later that evening, as neighbors were buying groceries, they noticed the dragon had moved from shelf to shelf, following them around the store. By closing time, it was perched on top of the cash register, grinning mischievously at everyone who left. To this day, some say Chong Lee Market’s security camera captures the occasional glimpse of a small, ceramic shadow darting between the aisles—just another quirky tale from the enigmatic market.
4. In the early hours of a Sunday morning, a sleepy delivery driver pulled up outside Chong Lee Market. As he opened the back door of his truck, a tiny white cat scurried out and darted towards the market’s entrance. The driver watched in amusement as the cat disappeared inside, only to emerge moments later with a plastic bag full of groceries. The driver shook his head, smiling. A few minutes later, an old lady emerged from the market carrying a similar bag. She looked down and noticed the empty plastic sack on the ground. ‘That pesky little thief,’ she muttered good-naturedly, then waved at the bemused delivery man. The story became a neighborhood joke, but nobody ever caught the mischievous feline shopper.