Today we’d like to introduce you to Soo Park.
Soo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I worked in corporate marketing for 17+ years with a focus on marketing strategy, branding, and social media. To make a long story short, I got into a car accident while recovering from a major spinal fusion surgery, a month before my wedding. It was stressful to learn how to walk again 3 weeks before walking down the aisle. Recovery was hard and sitting in an office 1o+ hrs a day was harder. My husband encouraged me to quit my job and focus on my health so I left my job. During that time, I contemplated on my next career move and eventually decided to pursue my passions – food, writing, photography and all things Chicago – and Fab Food Chicago (fabfoodchicago.com) was born in September 2015. Our biggest following is on Instagram with over 58K followers (instagram.com/fabfoodchicago). What started off as a hobby has turned into a recognizable brand and a business. Along with the food blog, I also run my own consulting company helping local restaurants and businesses with marketing, social media, content development, influencers’ events, and more. I’ve lived in Chicago all my life, so I have a strong passion for local businesses.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting your own business is never easy. I’ve spent many years building my career and chasing the next promotion. I left a stable job with a steady income to start over to pursue my passions. I questioned myself for a very long time if I was making the right decision. I had a major fear of failure. Then, I finally reached a point where I realized I’d rather try and fail than fail to try. I am lucky to have an amazing support system, my hubby, who encouraged me from day one to go for it. My advice…. whatever career path you choose, make sure you love what you are doing. You can’t put a price on your happiness.
Please tell us about Fab Food Chicago.
I photograph, write, and post about the Chicago food scene and my travels. I have indulged myself into the food scene from quaint neighborhood gems to trendy hot spots to top Michelin-rated restaurants. From fast casual to fine dining, I love trying new foods and exploring new cultures.
Being able to help local businesses gain exposure to the platforms or strategies I have built has been amazing. I grew up in Chicago all my life so I want all my favorite restaurants/businesses to succeed.
I was recently named Zagat’s Top 100 Food Instagrammer in the U.S., which was super exciting.
Who have you been inspired by?
Definitely my mom. My parents came to the United States to provide a better life for the family. I was only 3. Even though we didn’t have much when we first got here, my mom gave up her job so she could take care of me and my younger brother. She’s always instilled honesty, humility and hard work, which I’ve carried throughout my life. I have a 1-year-old daughter and having my own baby makes me appreciate my mom even more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fabfoodchicago.com
- Email: soo@fabfoodchicago.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabfoodchicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabfoodchicago/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fabfoodchicago
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/fabsoopark/
Image Credit:
@minusoneofficial @afullliving
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
