Later in life, Benson Fong became a successful restaurateur and opened several Ah Fong restaurants in California. His chain of five restaurants, which he built up over a 30-year period, resulted from a Casual remark made by actor Gregory Peck. After appearing together in The Keys of the Kingdom, Fong recalled, Peck suggested they start a restaurant together. "The idea appealed to me", Fong said. By that time, he was dating his Future wife Gloria. Wanting to have a predictable income instead of becoming one more struggling actor, he decided the restaurant would have to be done with his own capital, so he began saving. Two years later, he had $11,000, and in 1946, opened his first Ah Fong's on Hollywood's Vine Street. By 1971, four others had opened. The Ah in the Ah Fong's name is a term of respect in Chinese, but Fong thought up the name while looking at the wrapper of an Oh Henry! candy bar. Retiring from the Business in 1985, only the Hollywood Ah Fong's remained, owned by a relative, at the time of his death.