From Newcomer to Community Builder: How Hong Zheng Turned Opportunity Into Impact in Omaha
Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Story by Hamza Noor
Hong Zheng’s story begins with a decision many people only ever consider. At 19, he left China and moved to the United States, arriving in 1992 and stepping into a completely new environment with no guarantees of what would come next. Within a few years, he began building a life through business, opening his first Chinese restaurant in Missouri in 1998 before moving to Omaha in 2000 to expand further, not just with restaurants, but into grocery as well. Over time, that growth turned into something much larger, with Zheng now owning multiple Asian restaurants and contributing to a network of Asian supermarkets across the Midwest, reflecting years of steady ambition and consistency.
But his impact in Omaha extends beyond business. Zheng has been actively involved in the Nebraska Chinese Association since 2008, later serving as Chairman of the Board for four years and continuing his involvement as an Honorary Chairman. Having once been a new immigrant himself, much of his work has focused on supporting others navigating similar experiences, helping people adapt, find opportunity and build their own paths forward.
That commitment to giving back has taken shape in practical ways. In 2019, he helped raise funds for victims of local flooding, and in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he coordinated the donation of more than 25,000 masks and PPE to local health clinics and hospitals. Alongside this, he has supported cultural initiatives such as the One Community Culture Festival, helping to celebrate diversity and bring communities together, while also contributing to education through scholarship programs at Bellevue University.
His journey is not defined by a single moment, but by years of consistent progress. From arriving in the United States as a teenager to building businesses and supporting the community around him, Zheng’s story reflects a broader idea of success, one that goes beyond personal achievement and focuses on creating opportunities for others.
