The Gong Company, a historic grocery store in downtown Merigold, Mississippi, likely began operations around 1917-1918 in a brick building east of the railroad tracks, later moving to a brick structure estimated to date from circa 1925. Founded by Chinese immigrants, the store was a community staple, offering "Fancy Groceries & Kansas City Meats" as advertised in the 1940 Fidelis. Kit Gong, who arrived in the U.S. in 1959, and his wife, met in Hong Kong, ran the store, which served as both a business and a residence. The Gong family’s story reflects the broader Chinese-American experience in the Delta, blending cultural heritage with local commerce. The store closed as the town’s population dwindled, and by the 2010s, it stood abandoned, its shelves still stocked but floors decaying.

 

On my earlier visit to The Gong Company, I met Ben, who was clearing out the abandoned store. He allowed me to photograph the still-stocked shelves, though the rotting, crumbling wood floor limited my exploration. The space felt frozen in time, a relic of Merigold’s past. Recently, I returned to find the building transformed into Hey Joe’s, a vibrant restaurant. The difference is striking—gone are the decayed floors and dusty shelves, replaced by a lively dining space. I enjoyed a fantastic meal and was permitted to photograph the revamped interior. My recent photos capture this remarkable transformation, while those from eight years ago preserve the store’s haunting, abandoned state. The Gong Company’s legacy lives on in Hey Joe’s, blending Merigold’s history with new vitality.