The Restaurant Industry

A Chinese restaurant on Mott Street (Michalos)

Since Chinatown began in the 1870s, one major part of its economy has been the restaurant industry.  Originally, Chinese restaurants sprouted in the lower east side as a result of Chinatown’s “Bachelor’s Society” status (1).  Wifeless working Chinese immigrant men needed quick meals since they had no one at home to cook for them.  What better way to get a quick meal than to eat out?

The Port Arthur Chinese Restaurant located on 7-9 Mott Street was one of the first banquet halls in Chinatown (Table Talk, thny.blackhousecollective.com).

Restaurants also sprung up to serve as a tourist attraction.  They catered not only to the tastes of hungry bachelors but also to the tastes of hungry visitors interested in trying exotic Chinese cuisine.

In the 1980s, nearly fifteen thousand people worked in Chinatown’s restaurants.  Then and now, Chinese workers in Chinatown’s restaurant industry are mostly male because of the long and rigid working hours, which make it difficult for women to juggle caring for their young children and working in a restaurant (1).  

The Chinese Tuxedo Restaurant on 2 Doyers Street was also a huge attraction for visitors to Chinatown, especially businessmen (Raphael Tuck & Sons, www.cardcow.com).

Owning a Chinese restaurant has always been a hard business.  Workers toil for many hours, sometimes into the early morning, for low wages.  Working conditions are not preferable either.  Imagine standing in a tight basement space for hours on end, pots and pans surrounding you as you lean over a sink to wash an endless supply of dirty dishes.  Cooking and cleaning in tight spaces is not uncommon in Chinatown’s restaurant industry.  Today, Chinatown is home to hundreds of restaurants, a tremendous economic boon.