The 1932 City Directory was the first to list a restaurant at 2877 University Ave., and the person associated with the address was Kway Chew. An earlier advertisement from the San Diego Union’s Jissue touted “The New Improved Pekin Cafe” and told customers to “Look for the New Attractive Oriental Front.” (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Union and NewsBank, Inc.) In 1935, the restaurant gained a new facade, as illustrated in this advertisement from the San Diego Union’s Jissue. Pekin Cafe became a safe place for many Chinese immigrants to take their first steps toward success in a very new world. In addition to creating some of the first “Chinese-American” dishes - including their brightly advertised chop suey - these courageous immigrants provided employment and housing for others who had just come to America. Pekin Cafe has been owned and operated by a close-knit circle of friends and family throughout nearly nine decades. 24, 1982 after repairs and redecoration that eliminated the private booths. 21, 1981 extensively damaged the kitchen, but the restaurant reopened on Feb. The same policies that prevailed before will be in effect, it was stated, with the same Chinese cooks, food, prices and service.” Newspaper advertisements through the 1940s highlighted the cafe’s “exclusive booths.” In 1948, the restaurant advertised being newly decorated with “all private booths.”Ī fire on Oct. The San Diego Union’s Jissue noted “Pekin Cafe Reopened After Redecoration - Entirely redecorated in an Oriental motif, Pekin cafe, 2877 University Ave., has reopened. The San Diego Union’s Jissue announced Pekin Cafe was “just opened” and would serve their regular $1 dinner for only 50 cents “to get acquainted with the people of San Diego.” The restaurant advertised it was a place to dine and dance on New Year’s Eve in 1931 and placed similar ads for many years afterwards. The Evening Tribune’s Jissue recorded permits by San Diego Neon Sign Company for an “electric sign” at the building. In June and July of 1931, permits for plumbing, plastering, electrical and gas work recorded in the Evening Tribune indicated major changes were happening at 2877 University Ave. The San Diego Union’s Jissue presented advertisements for North Park’s monthly Dollar Days, including this notice for the “Just Opened Pekin Cafe.” (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Union and NewsBank, Inc.) In 1923, Pabco Paint took over the building and operated there until 1931.
#CHOP SUEY RESTAURANT SAN DIEGO ADDRESS WINDOWS#
The building was constructed in a Spanish Revival style with a parapet roofline and four long, narrow windows on the half floor above the first floor. Crover, who came to the United States from Germany in 1911. The Pekin Cafe building started life in 1922 as the North Park Furniture store owned by Frank J. The contrasts in architecture were not always so exuberant. The uniquely-styled restaurant building sits between the stately white brick Granada Building and the elegant terra cotta Spanish Renaissance North Park Theatre - more recently rebranded as The Observatory North Park - on the south side of University Avenue east of Granada Avenue.
#CHOP SUEY RESTAURANT SAN DIEGO ADDRESS FULL#
But those doors are closed for now.Ī sign posted on the window announces to all “loyal and amazing customers” that the difficult decision to retire the restaurant as of March 2019 was made “with a full and heavy heart,” but staff “are ready for the next chapter of retirement and new endeavors.” A thank you sign on the door notes, “It has been an absolute pleasure knowing you all and serving you through the generations…Thank you for welcoming us into your lives and making us a part of your tradition.” Emily and Leo Fong were among the early founders of the Pekin Cafe. The bright neon sign announcing “Pekin Cafe CHOP SUEY” seemed to smile as you walked through the double wooden doors.
has been a North Park constant since the 1930s. The elaborate Oriental facade of 2877 University Ave.
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