Sharing food. Sharing culture.

Meet Maya, the owner of Jib-Bob Korean Restaurant in Mt. Pleasant and a Lake Trust business member. She is a Korean immigrant who knows the power of feeling accepted in a community.

Maya, owner of Jib Bob, standing in front of her restaurant
That’s why she came to Lake Trust for a small business microloan — to share her culture through “mother’s homemade food” and give everyone a seat at the table.

Finding a home in Mt. Pleasant.

Finding a home in Mt. Pleasant.

Maya is originally from the bustling city of Seoul. That’s where she was a hwasil, or the owner of an art studio for artists of any age. But despite her love for teaching in South Korea, she didn’t want to raise her children in the hectic capital city.
Decorated sign over entry that reads "Jib Bob"

Moving to the United States was a dramatic change for Maya and her family. It was a challenge to settle down, join the community, and adapt to American life. The city of Mt. Pleasant became her home — a place that bears little resemblance to Seoul but offers unique opportunities for newcomers like Maya. After nearly five years of teaching in the Mt. Pleasant school system, Maya started exploring the possibility of opening an authentic Korean restaurant in the area.

I knew the community needed more cultural exposure. I wanted to teach people outside of the school. I wanted to teach them the real thing in a place where they can experience Korean culture.

Try mother’s homemade food.

Try mother’s homemade food.

“Jib-Bob” means “mother’s homemade food.” It’s a special word in Korea, where it embodies the comfort of spending quality time with family around the dinner table. For Maya, “Jib-Bob” reflects her purpose in Mt. Pleasant. She invites any community member to experience authentic Korean culture at her restaurant.
Maya serving food to customer.
Maya is proud to embrace the meaning and significance of “Jib-Bob.” She is backed by a small team of dedicated employees, but Maya is willing to play any role in restaurant operations. She regularly cooks, cleans, serves tables, and tracks important business information — all in a day’s work. Imagine sitting down at a family dinner where the host is completely devoted to sharing their appreciation through delicious, thoughtful dishes. That’s Jib-Bob Korean Restaurant.

It’s beyond the money. Working with Lake Trust means that somebody trusts me. I can’t explain how happy I was to get their support.

“I felt lost until Lake Trust said ‘yes.’”

“I felt lost until Lake Trust said ‘yes.’”

Early on, getting support for Jib-Bob Korean Restaurant was a difficult task. Despite her being a business owner in South Korea and having a strong vision for her restaurant, many large banks turned down Maya’s funding requests. That’s why she reached out to Lake Trust. Today, Maya is a business banking member and has used our small business microloan and commercial loan solutions to grow Jib-Bob Korean Restaurant. Members of the Lake Trust commercial team also helped her find a permanent space for the restaurant by scouting locations in Mt. Pleasant. The business has evolved into a vibrant place that attracts sizable lunch and dinner crowds five days a week.

Maya on the phone writing notes
For Maya, it’s not really about the money. It’s about feeling accepted and valued as a member. As a business owner. As an immigrant who wants to share her culture. At Jib-Bob Korean Restaurant, everyone has a seat at the table — and everyone is empowered to share their story.

That’s the power of sharing a table.

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