In the quiet foothills of Evergreen, Colorado, resilience and community spirit have taken center stage.
A beloved local spot, Sushi Win, has reopened its doors after a traumatic shooting incident occurred at the medical clinic next door last month. What could have marked the end of a small family business instead became a story of courage, compassion, and overwhelming community support.
A Family Business Built on Hard Work
Sushi Win is not a corporate chain — it’s a three-person, family-run operation. The original owners, immigrants from Vietnam and Burma, spent years building loyal relationships with customers. A couple of years ago, they passed ownership to their first-generation American son, Ryan Win.
On the day of the incident, Ryan’s parents did what came naturally — they protected their customers.
“I’m so proud of my parents because they brought all the customers to hide,” Ryan shared.
That moment would forever stay with the family.
The Day Everything Changed
On February 12, a 62-year-old man reportedly upset over ongoing medical problems entered the nearby primary care clinic and fired 19 shotgun rounds before taking his own life. Miraculously, no one else was injured.
Inside the restaurant, Ryan first sensed something was wrong when he heard commotion outside. Looking out, he spotted what appeared to be the shooter’s foot climbing through a shattered window — and a shotgun shell on the ground confirmed his fears.
He immediately rushed everyone inside and locked the doors.
“It was an absolute miracle, and I’m forever thankful for that every single day.”
While gunshots echoed outside, Ryan ran toward his truck to retrieve a secured firearm but quickly shifted focus when he saw pedestrians nearby.
“I was yelling at them, telling them, ‘Get out of here, guys, there’s an active shooter.’”
He rushed back inside and secured the restaurant.
A Moment He’ll Never Forget
As deputies cleared the scene, confusion and fear filled the restaurant. Surveillance footage later showed customers holding their hands up.
One of the most emotional moments came when Ryan found a young girl — the daughter of a customer — hiding in the back.
“I said, ‘Come on, sweetie, let’s get out of here,’ and the moment she heard my voice, she grabbed onto me so I could carry her out.”
The way she held onto him, he said, was something no child should ever experience.
Delayed Reopening — Out of Respect
In the aftermath, broken windows and boarded-up glass served as reminders of the chaos. Repairs have been slow, and insurance coverage fell short — offering only one day of lost business compensation.
Technically, Ryan could have reopened quickly once crime scene tape came down.
But he chose not to.
“I wanted to give the community the respect it deserved because it had already been through so much trauma.”
Instead, the family took time to process, regroup, and support one another.
Community Steps In
During the closure, Ryan launched an online fundraiser to help cover rent, salaries, and lost inventory. What happened next deeply moved him.
Regular customers called to check in. Donations poured in. Familiar names showed up in support.
“Seeing the names of my regular patrons giving me phone calls and checking in on me — that was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Now, Sushi Win is serving customers again — initially with to-go meals, but dine-in service has slowly returned as well. One large board still covers a window, letting in cool mountain air, a visible reminder of what happened.
Yet inside, something stronger fills the room: gratitude.
“It was completely humbling to the core that the community jumped up so quickly in the way that it did, and I’m forever grateful.”
A Story of Resilience
In times of crisis, small businesses often face the hardest battles. But Sushi Win’s reopening isn’t just about sushi — it’s about neighbors protecting neighbors, customers supporting local families, and a community refusing to let tragedy define it.
Evergreen didn’t just help a restaurant reopen.
They helped a family heal.
