Running a business is tough. Running a business in the middle of a pandemic requires ingenuity and being able to think outside of the box, qualities that seem to come naturally to Pom Moongauklang, founder and owner of the WAVE-winning Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria.
Pom Pom’s, which is located in Orlando’s Milk District, came in with four WAVEs this year; three first place finishes for Favorite Local Business, Favorite Late Night Dining and Favorite Local Caterer, and a second place finish for Favorite Local Restaurant.
“I’m elated, I can’t believe it,” Moongauklang says. “Every year I am surprised. To even be nominated but then to win. I am so grateful to those who took the time to think of us, to vote for us.”
This isn’t Moongauklang’s first time to the WAVE dance. Pom Pom’s, which celebrated its 15th year as an Orlando eatery in January, has racked up many awards in the past decade and a half, most notably dominating the late night dining category.
“We started late night about 14 years ago,” Moongauklang recalls. “It started with all the bartenders around town. Of course, back then I would close the bars and then I invited the bartenders back to come eat. I was like Peter Piper to the food. That’s how it started and then the bartenders would tell their favorites ‘let’s go grab some food,’ and they felt like they had the ‘in’ on the underground scoop on late night. It started from there.”
Pom Pom’s coming in first for Favorite Local Business is no surprise to us either, especially after this past year. Moongauklang not only got innovative with meal options and dialed up promoting takeout and delivery at Pom Pom’s during the pandemic, but she also went to bat for other Milk District businesses and local nonprofits.
During her “15 Days of Pom Pom’s” anniversary celebration, Moongauklang helped to promote other businesses and artists as well as donated lunchtime proceeds from select days to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and the onePULSE Foundation.
Throughout it all, Moongauklang has remained successful by holding true to two ideas: Pom Pom’s is always a safe space for the LGBTQ community and keep it local.
“Keep supporting local, we all need it,” she says. “We all love you and to those who voted for me, thank you. I am nothing without you.”
