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New Chinatown

 
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Title
New Chinatown
Creator
Watson, George; Distributed by Mitock & Sons, North Hollywood, California
Description
Northeast corner of Central Plaza with Phoenix Bakery, South China Gifts, GinLing Gifts, and Forbidden Palace; top corner of East Gate frames right side; benches, trees, lawn; people walking and sitting; sign topping Phoenix Bakery reads:"The Phoenix, Pastries, Candies."
Format Extent
1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Subject
Chinese Restaurants--California--Los Angeles; Decoration and ornament, Architectural--California--Los Angeles; Gift shops--California--Los Angeles; Bakeries--California--Los Angeles;
Note
The original Los Angeles Chinatown began in the late 1800s as a small settlement on Calle De Los Negros, between El Pueblo Plaza and Old Arcadia Street, and expanded east across Alameda Street. Suffering from absentee landlords and a lack of municipal services and code enforcement, the area was in decline when the city forced residents out and demolished it to make way for the new Union Station Terminal. Two new Chinatowns were created: China City, a tourist attraction, complete with rickshaw rides, brainchild of Christine Sterling, founder of Olvera Street; and New Chinatown, a business and residential neighborhood created and funded by the Chinese community under the leadership of Peter Soo Hoo. Both opened to great fanfare in 1938. Phoenix Bakery now at corner of North Broadway and Bamboo Lane, is famous for its strawberry shortcake with whipped cream. Owned and operated by two brothers, Fun Chow Chan and Fun Lun Chan, it was originally located inside the Central Plaza next to Hong Kong Low restaurant.
Collection
Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
Type
Geographic Location
Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Language
eng
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