Early Life
Born, schooling, Vietnam War looming over everything.
About Us
I met M in Korea in 1978 and we married in 1980. I was in the military at the time so M suffered through the next 14 years as a "Military Spouse". She stayed home while I deployed to exotic places like the Saudi Arabian desert for sun and sand (no beach, lots of scorpions and baboons though). As I neared retirement, M and her sister bought a Korean restaurant near the base. I went back to school for a while, then went to work. M's sister decided restaurant work was not her strong suit, so she sold us her share and I went to work with M as server, cashier, dishwasher, and general handyman. I also set up our first restaurant website, did the advertising, and just about every other aspect of the business. (things were a lot simpler then).
We operated that restaurant by ourselves (no employees) for about 16 years, then decided to sell it off. Changed scenery and opened a small Teriyaki/Korean restaurant in Seattle, mostly doing take-out. Building owner decided to demolish the building we were in so we "retired".
In 2017 M again started a Korean restaurant, so I wrapped up my then current job and joined her in the business. Employees, payroll, worker's comp, paid medical, employee taxes, etc, etc. Not as simple as before. Only six years this time, but Covid made it seem a lot longer. Sold off and retired again.
1950's to 1974
1974 to 1994
Military Life
Enlisted, stationed in the midwest, sent as a non-volunteer to Korea, married a wonderful Korean girl. Re-enlisted to go back to Korea several times (total 7 years). Two fantastic sons. M patiently put up with all the Military Life. Retired from the military.
1994 to 2009
Restaurant Life
M and her sister bought a Korean restaurant, used her mother's recipes as well as our own. Sister sold her share to us so I joined M shortly after Military retirement. Sold out after a number of years and went to Seattle where we operated a Korean/Teriyaki restaurant. Almost 17 years in the business, time for something else.
2009 to 2017
Tween Years
Started a Korean Recipe website (the original hannaone.com). Diddled in retail as an "Associate", rapidly transitioned to "Team Lead", then "Senior Team Lead". Wife bored with not much to do, so back into the Korean Restaurant business. hannaone.com domain sold out from under me by Godaddy, bought by someone in Russia who stole all of my content and continues to use it despite my requesting that he not do so..... Birth of hannaonetwo.com and hanna-one.com.
2017 to 2019
Restaurant Life Again
Cooking and serving Korean and Teriyaki again.
2020/2021
COVID
Restaurant closed for dine-in service so transitioned to take out only. We had already begun delivery through UberEats, Doordash, and GrubHub before the COVID forced closures so it was an easy transition.
2022/2023
Post Covid???
Most Covid restrictions lifted, many people back for dine in. Take out still very strong. Employee shortage - are we ready for the next chapter yet? Monkeypox on the horizon????
Late 2023
Retired??
Sold the restaurant, trying out "Retirement". Maybe it will stick this time.
2024
Retired Life So Far
Staying Home, shopping, gardening. Making kimchi on request for friends and a few former restaurant customers.
