Nia Rasavong remembers the day she landed on Minnesota soil.
“It was March 16, we got off the plane, we were given jackets and coats and went outside. There was a snowstorm which I've never seen, it was beautiful. We were slipping and sliding – there's not really any words – but I do remember that day clearly.”
Nia is the co-owner of downtown St.Paul’s Ruam Mit Thai + Lao Cuisine, located on Wabasha Street North. It’s a vibrant cultural restaurant serving Lao and Thai fusion cuisine.
“Ruam Mit, it started in 1989. It was started by another family. The original location was at 544, St. Peter, I believe. From there, we moved over to 475 St. Peter Street. We were there from ‘96 up until July of last year. I took over Ruam Mit about five years ago, towards the end of 2018, prior to the pandemic.”
Along with thousands of other restaurants, Ruam Mit had to close during the 2020 pandemic, but it continued to serve take out until they were able to reopen.
“And even during the pandemic, when we were forced to close - the loyal customers, the support from the community, from the city... things like that just keeps me going.”
The restaurant’s longevity is a reflection of Nia’s own resilience.
Nia was born in Laos, a country slightly bigger than the state of Utah. At the age of five she was forced to move to a refugee camp in Thailand.
“While we were in the refugee camp in Thailand, my mom got to come first with the youngest daughter who was two years old at the time. I don't remember much – I just remember missing my mom and crying every night going to sleep. And then a year later, we were finally reunited with my mom.”
At the age of six, Nia and her family packed up their belongings in the refugee camp and moved to Minnesota with the hopes of having a better life. Many immigrant families move to the U.S. with the intention of building wealth, but the move also comes with many challenges. Nia had to learn the language and the customs of a completely different culture. She struggled to find a sense of belonging and connection with her peers at school in Eagan.
“I was in fifth grade, and I struggled a bit in school, because we were one or two of the only minorities in the school. We got picked on a lot. We were different. Having a bigger family, we got teased a lot, saying that our parents couldn't afford certain things for us, because there's so many of us,” Rasavong recalled. “I learned to stand up for myself. I was a troubled kid - I got into fights on the bus, I got suspended and things like that. Now that I have children of my own, I don't want them to go through that.”
Despite Nia and her sisters being bullied by other kids, she knew her family would always be there. Her family served as her backbone, giving Nia the love, acceptance and community she was denied by her peers.
“Coming from a family of all girls, we've always been close. With my mom, we've always been close, kind of like sisters… it's just the bond that we have.”
Nia’s mother was the pillar of the family, bringing everyone together to share meals at the dinner table. She showed her love for her children through her cooking, making them traditional dishes such as Gaeng Nor Mai, a bamboo soup.
As an immigrant, Nia says she was taught the power of community and connection through food. Now as the owner of Ruam Mit, she’s using her business to help other immigrants get their start.
“With a lot of our kitchen, and even our front-of-house staff, a lot of them are non-English speaking,” she said. “I get that, I was there – all they want to do is just be able to get a job and support their family. Even though language is huge, you have to give them a chance. When we first came, my parents didn't speak English… so I want to give them a chance.”
Rasavong has provided opportunities for her employees to create a better life for themselves, something her parents gave to her. Knowing what it feels like to be rejected and outcast she works to empower the people around her and make them feel welcome, no matter where they’re from.
“I want all of us to come together; when people walk in here I want them to feel welcome, I want them to feel warm and happy.”
That sentiment is reflected in the restaurant's name.
“We get asked a lot, ‘what does Ruam-Mit mean?’ Ruam Mit means gathering, togetherness... family, friends, togetherness.”
From a refugee to the owner of a successful restaurant, Nia’s story demonstrates the power of family, culture, and perseverance. And that’s why each plate at Ruam Mit is served with a side of community and connection.
(This story was reported as part of the Center for Broadcast Journalism's Summer Journalism Intensive, a training program for young aspiring reporters from diverse communities.)
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