On-air statement
CBS reported Yoom saying that business was up 90% and staff tips were up 250% after one day. Those are Yoom Nguyen's on-air figures, not independently audited business metrics and not a guarantee of continuing results.
Documented community-business story
Josh Liljenquist and Lotus Minneapolis
Independent reporting documents a Lotus Minneapolis visit that connected food outreach for people experiencing homelessness, a local restaurant, Yoom Nguyen, and a later continuing relationship.
RelationshipDocumented community-business story
Initial reportDecember 20, 2023
LocationLotus Minneapolis
Restaurant voiceYoom Nguyen
Food outreach
A restaurant visit connected food support and a local business.
CBS News Minnesota reported that Josh visited Lotus Minneapolis, ordered egg rolls for people experiencing homelessness, and recorded the project. Yoom Nguyen took Josh into the kitchen and showed him how to prepare the food planned for distribution on the street and at shelters.
The page documents a community-business story. It does not describe Lotus or Yoom as a sponsor, paid partner, commercial partner, or endorser.
Reported response
Business figures remain attributed to Yoom Nguyen.
Later independent reporting
The Minnesota Star Tribune later reported that business had boomed after the visit and that Yoom said he and Josh talked daily. The newspaper also reported that Yoom's recommendation led Josh to another restaurant.
Josh first-party perspective
A continuing personal relationship, carefully attributed.
Josh says he and Yoom became close friends and that he continues to visit Lotus. That is Josh's first-party description of their personal relationship. It is not presented as independent reporting, a commercial arrangement, or an endorsement.
Sources & provenance
Independent reports and first-party context stay separate
- CBS News Minnesota · December 20, 2023 ↗INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM. Restaurant visit, food preparation, public distribution plan, video reach, and Yoom's attributed business and tip figures.
- Minnesota Star Tribune · January 18, 2024 ↗INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM. Later reporting on Lotus, Yoom, restaurant activity, and continued contact.
- CBS / Lotus media recordARCHIVAL MEDIA CONTEXT. Source and rights context for the broadcast frame.
- Josh LiljenquistJOSH FIRST-PARTY. His later description of friendship with Yoom and continued visits to Lotus.