Charlie Hong, a vegetable and fruit proprietor, sold his perishables from his Model A truck primarily through San Rafael for decades well into his 70s. The title of a March 24, 1962, Marin IJ article summed up this beloved man: “Everyone knows — and likes — Charlie.”
Hong came to the United States in 1920 from Canton, China. Sadly, his wife, Lin, did not make the move with him, yet they continued to write letters for years. He landed in Chinatown and did odd jobs in San Francisco to save money for a truck to start his business. In 1924, he began his door-to-door fruit and vegetable delivery service to many loyal customers. He began his day in his “office,” which was a garage at 622 Fifth Ave. and the Highway 101 overpass. To say he had a strong work ethic would be a major understatement. His workday began at 4:30 a.m. and he finished his deliveries at 8 p.m., then arriving back in San Francisco at midnight.
His distant cousin, Harry, operated Harry’s Mart at 52 Bolinas Road in Fairfax. On Sundays, when Hong wasn’t making deliveries, he helped Harry at the grocery store. In return, Harry Hong would drop off fruits and vegetables that Charlie ordered from him weekly.
It wasn’t just his customers who knew him — proprietors around town did, too. John Rossi Sr., who owned Rossi Garage in San Rafael, serviced Hong’s truck for more than 30 years. Rossi commented that when repairs were needed, they had to make the parts themselves since parts for old trucks like Hong’s weren’t manufactured anymore. Hong was also known throughout the Marin neighborhoods by the children who could always count on some fresh fruit and delicious coconut strips “on the house.” Customers would also provide Hong with fresh bread and cookies.
In 1946, the San Rafael City Council outlawed door-to-door sales but made a special exception for Hong and granted him a business license so he could continue his business. In 1959, Hong was cranking his truck to start it, and the brake slipped and knocked him over. As the truck passed over him, Hong braced himself between the underside of the truck and the pavement. This quick thinking stopped the vehicle from rolling further down the street. Hong suffered broken ribs along with some cuts and bruises and stayed at Marin General Hospital for a few days. According to Harry Hong, Charlie received letters and postcards from all over when people heard about the accident. After a short recovery time, he was back on his route. Nothing seemed to stop Hong from his delivery service — even when heavy rains caused part of the floor in the garage to slip away and fall into the creek. Repairs were made, and Hong was back on the job.
A Nov. 18, 1966, Marin IJ article announced Hong’s retirement at age 79. As the last house-to-house produce seller, Hong was in business for more than 42 years. His beloved truck was put up for auction, and Hong spent his retirement in Fairfax with his cousin. He also visited his many friends in San Francisco from time to time. In the article, Harry Hong summed up how people felt about Charlie: “There isn’t a soul who can have a bad word about him. He is well liked and respected wherever he goes.”
(Originally published as History Watch article in the Marin Independent Journal)