-
Chinese laundry at 211 King St.
In the early day, to make a living and take root in America, including Madison, many Chinese people chose to open the laundry or Chinese restaurant. However, the hand-laundry business began to fade due to automatic washing machines in homes and apartment buildings, many Chinese people shift their attention to restaurant.
[The Social Science History Association at 40: A Savory Chop Suey]
[image: Chinese laundry at 211 King St. credited by Wisconsin historical society] -
Chop Suey: the iconic symbol for Chinese restaurant
In the early period, Chop Suey was the iconic representation for Chinese Restaurants because it was one of the earliest American Chinese cuisine in United States. And Chop Suey also became the name of many early Chinese restaurant in Madison. The photo of the event is the ad for "real Chop Suey" in 1906.
[image credited by Will open new Chop Suey, Wis State Journal Article, 1906]
[The Social Science History Association at 40: A Savory Chop Suey] -
Canton Café-one of the early Chinese restaurants in Madison
Canton Cafe was one of early Chinese restaurants in Madison from 1925 to 1946. At that time, American liked Chinese dishes when they were looking for a change of diet. According to Roy Fun, owner of the Canton Café, “American people divide their tastes equally between American and Chinese foods," So he had one chef for American food and another chef for Chinese food.
[Image by McVicar, Angus B]
[Americans Like Chinese Dishes, Customers Keep Two Chefs Busy at Canton Cafe Wis State Journal] -
Type 1: Nom Yee: a early single Chinese Restaurateur in Madison
Nom Yee was a native of Canton and came to America in 1924 at the age of 13. It is worthy mentioning that he is one of early single Chinese who come to Madison to run restaurant from 1944 to 1978. The restaurants he ran were
1944-1950: Madison Inn
1950-1970: Yee's Cafe, 119s. Webster, St,
1970-1975: Yee's Cafe in Capital Hotel
1975-1978 : Nom Yee’s, 678 S. Whitney Way
[Image taken credited by Carolyn Pflasterer]
["Nom Yee - Remembered" Wis State Journal Oct. 11, 1980] -
Type 2: Yew Low: emigrated with parents and opened Cathy House
Yew Low was the second type of Chinese who emigrated to Wisconsin and opened the restaurant with parents. He and his parents came to America in 1932 from Kwangtung China. When Yew Low wanted to own his own restaurant, he moved from Janesville to Madison and opened the Cathay House (1954-1997) featured Cantonese.
[ Imaged credited by Ann Waidelich Gain permission]
["Ah, for a taste of the old Cathay House egg fu yung" column written by Catherine Murray Wisconsin State Journal March 4, 2002] -
Type 3: Wong Family: opened Family- based restaurant called Golden Dragon
The Wrong Family owned a big family-based restaurant in Madison called Golden Dragon from 1974-1999. Chok Ting Wong was the first came to the U.S at1924 and started a laundry. He brought his family to Madison one by one and year by year.(in 1980, Wrong Family has 27 members). Because of washing machines, the laundry business started to fade. So they opened Golden Dragon.
[image credited by David Sandell]
["Opening of Golden Dragon Marks Wong Family Venture" June 22, 1974 Wis State Journal] -
Type 4: Betty Chan: well-educated Chinese opened Grand Pagoda
Betty Chan was the owner of Grand Pagoda Restaurant (1974 - 1996). She hold a degree in Law and a master’s degree in library science, and she was also employed at the University library 6 years before opening the restaurant. Betty asked her brothers Henry Chan and Frank Chan & his wife Yu-Feng to madison to run Grand Pagoda together. They also had university degree.
[Image credited by Bruce Fritz]
["Grand Pagoda for Chinese New Year" Wis State Journal Sept 20 1981] -
Type 4 continue: Imperial Garden: early authentic Chinese restaurant
Henry Chan established Imperial Garden at 1981 and determined to introduced the authentic Chinese dishes. He followed his sister Betty Chan to the United States as a graduate to study chemistry and dropped out to work at Grand Pagoda in 1973. in 1981, Henry wanted to educate consumers to learn the real Chinese dishes by opening Imperial Garden.
[image credited by Roger Turner]
["Imperial Garden Restores Chinese Cuisine Authenticity" Wis State Journal March 15, 1981] -
Mini-Chaintown appeared
A mini-Chinatown appeared to be developing along South Park Street with 5 Chinese restaurants, a laundry, and two Asian food stores in 1982(date posted in Wisconsin State Journal). The appearance of Chinatown may due to inexpensive rents for commercial spaces, protection for racist violence and nearness to Asian students.
[image credited by Vinje, Arthur M. Wisconsin Historical society]
[4608: Chinese year of the dog, Wisconsin State Journal article Jan. 24, 1982 ] -
Today-Authentic Chinese food culture flow
In the past of decades, American Chinese dishes widespread Chinese restaurants. While today, Asian restaurant owners such as Amanda and Wendy tried to introduce real authentic Chinese dishes. For instance, in Amanda's interview, she said Fugu is the one of early authentic Sichuan restaurant in Madison since 2009.
[image credited by Amanda]
[reference from interview with Amanda and Wendy]