A growing wave of sentiment is sweeping through San Diego’s North Park neighborhood as Matthew Lyons, owner of Tribute Pizza, initiates a Change.org petition to transform the 3800 block of Grim Avenue into "Lucky Lane." This effort pays tribute to Wong "Lucky" Chong, the adored proprietor of Lucky's Breakfast (also known as Lucky's Golden Phenix), who passed away on December 30, 2024, at 86, and whose diner served as a community cornerstone for nearly five decades, inspiring Lyons to preserve his enduring legacy through this symbolic gesture.
Wong "Lucky" Chong was more than a restaurateur - he was a North Park institution. Born in Taishan, China, in 1938, Chong immigrated to San Diego in 1949 and opened Lucky's Golden Phenix in 1975. What began as a Chinese restaurant evolved into a beloved breakfast spot known for its affordable American classics, like bacon, eggs, and pancakes, often priced under $10 to accommodate seniors and students.
Wong "Lucky" Chong was more than a restaurateur - he was a North Park institution. Born in Taishan, China, in 1938, Chong immigrated to San Diego in 1949 and opened Lucky's Golden Phenix in 1975. What began as a Chinese restaurant evolved into a beloved breakfast spot known for its affordable American classics, like bacon, eggs, and pancakes, often priced under $10 to accommodate seniors and students.
Chong's dedication to his community was legendary; even during the COVID-19 pandemic, he redirected funds from a GoFundMe meant for his struggling business to support North Park Diner and CORE, a nonprofit aiding food service workers.
Lyons, who opened Tribute Pizza just across from Lucky's in 2016, developed a deep bond with Chong over the years. In a previous tribute following Chong’s passing, Lyons recalled how Chong encouraged him when he was launching his pizzeria.
Lyons, who opened Tribute Pizza just across from Lucky's in 2016, developed a deep bond with Chong over the years. In a previous tribute following Chong’s passing, Lyons recalled how Chong encouraged him when he was launching his pizzeria.
"Lucky's was what first brought me to the corner of Grim and North Park Way," Lyons wrote. "I was hoping to host a pop-up in his restaurant, so I started eating there and getting to know him before making my pitch. After the first time I had breakfast, he had memorized my order, and it would be on the counter a minute or two after I sat down. I would go three or four times a week, and we became fast friends. After the first time I brought it up, he would tease me about just bringing over my pizza oven 'just in case.' 'Maybe next week' he would say with a wry smile. I was actually sitting at Lucky's a couple months later, eating my scrambled eggs and extra crispy hash browns, when the first 'for lease' sign was hung in the window of the old post office space caddy corner to his."
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| Lucky Chong & Matt Lyons |
On Tribute Pizza’s opening day, Chong gifted Lyons a Lucky Money tree, a keepsake that still adorns the restaurant. This personal connection inspired Lyons to spearhead the petition, which calls on San Diego City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn and other decision-makers to use one of the two honorary street renamings granted per council term to honor Chong. Lyons has also reached out to the Mayor’s office for backing, though he acknowledges Whitburn holds the decisive power.
Lyons has presented the proposal to North Park Main Street twice in the last two months, gaining informal support, though no formal resolution has been adopted yet, leaving persuasion of Whitburn as the critical next step. Lyons is treading carefully, aiming to win Whitburn as an ally, and get a resolution adopted by North Park Main Street as soon as possible.
The Change.org petition, titled "Petition to Honor Lucky Wong by Renaming Grim Avenue in North Park 'Lucky Lane,'" paints a vivid picture of Chong's impact.
"For nearly 50 years, Lucky Wong and the Golden Phenix stood at the heart of North Park, welcoming generations of neighbors, visitors, and friends with warmth, generosity, and a home-cooked meal," the petition states.
It highlights Chong's role as a community pillar who "greeted customers like family, remembering their orders by heart, and making everyone feel at home." The proposed renaming targets the 3800 block of Grim Avenue between University Ave and North Park Way - the very corner where Chong operated his restaurant until it closed late last year.
The petition argues that renaming the street "Lucky Lane" is a fitting tribute to a man whose "kindness and dedication left an undeniable mark on North Park." As Chong once prophetically said, "North Park is the center of San Diego," a vision that proved true as the area transformed over the decades.
Lyons, a San Diego native who founded Tribute Pizza in 2013 as a pop-up before establishing its brick-and-mortar location, is no stranger to the neighborhood’s dynamics. His pizzeria, located in the former North Park Post Office, has become a local staple, earning accolades and a loyal following.
The effort to change Grim Avenue becomes " Lucky Lane"underscores the profound impact one individual can have on a neighborhood. For now, Wong "Lucky" Chong’s legacy lives on in the stories of those who knew him - and in the hope that his name might one day grace the street where he poured his heart for half a century.
To support the cause, locals can sign the petition on Change.org and join the conversation about keeping Lucky's spirit alive in San Diego.
