New Cathay
| New Cathay | |
|---|---|
| Restaurant information | |
| Food type |
|
| City | Portland |
| County | Multnomah |
| State | Oregon |
| Country | United States |
New Cathay was a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States.
Description
[edit]The restaurant New Cathay operated at the intersection of 82nd Avenue and Division Street in southeast Portland.[1] It served Chinese, American,[2] and American Chinese cuisine.
History
[edit]On January 1, 1939, The Oregonian reported on the completion of the building.[3] New Cathay was granted a restaurant license in mid 1939.[4]
The restaurant operated until 1987. Bob K. Louie was an owner.[1][5] Eddie Chong Louie,[6][7] Frank Kee Chinn,[8] John K. Chinn,[9][10] and Yin K. Leong have also been credited as owners.[11]
A burglar stole $150 from the restaurant in 1949.[12] In 1949, a fire destroyed a shed adjoining the restaurant.[13]
The restaurant served as a gathering place for community groups such as the Montavilla Kiwanis club and Oregon Poultry and Pet Stock Association in 1939,[14][15] American Legion and Pepco Unit No. 104 in 1950,[16] Searchlight and Timberline Toastmistress clubs in 1955,[17] Disabled American Veterans in 1959,[18] the Oregon Association of Homes for the Aged in 1964,[19] and the Thread, Needle and Thimble club in 1965.[20]
In March 1966, burglars stoles $1,700 from the restaurant's safe.[21] The restaurant was burglarized again in July,[22] resulting in the arrest of two men.[23] Both men pleaded guilty.[24][25][26] In 1978, two Mt. Hood Community College and TriMet officials were arrested for theft and other charges after leaving the restaurant without paying.[27]
In 1985, employees of New Cathay rejected a proposal by Local 9 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union to be the group's bargaining representative.[28] In 1986, the restaurant was among businesses who donated food to feed 50 children at an annual Christmas celebration hosted by the 82nd Avenue Business Association.[29]
Reception
[edit]New Cathay was described as an "anchor" of the Chinatown on 82nd Avenue by Heather Arndt Anderson in the book Portland: A Food Biography (2014).[30] The business was among six American Chinese restaurants on 82nd Avenue featured in the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon's digital archive Behind the Wok in 2025.[31]
See also
[edit]
- History of Chinese Americans in Portland, Oregon
- List of Chinese restaurants
- List of defunct restaurants of the United States
References
[edit]- ^ a b Swindler, Samantha (2025-05-15). "These 6 historic Chinese restaurants helped build Portland's Jade District". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "East Side". The Oregonian. October 3, 1985. p. 136.
- ^ "Edifice Leased to Chinese Cafe". The Oregonian. January 1, 1939.
- ^ "Liquor Lockers Out for Cafes: Control Board Expected to Adopt Ban Rule". The Oregonian. June 6, 1939.
- ^ "Young Portland Woman Carves Career as Stock Broker, Financial Adviser". The Oregonian. July 11, 1958.
- ^ "Obituary: Eddie Chong Louie". The Oregonian. May 20, 1962.
- ^ "Obituary: Eddie Chong Louie". The Oregonian. May 17, 1962.
- ^ "Obituary: Frank Kee Chinn". The Oregonian. November 10, 1963.
- ^ "Chinese Chosen by Col. Mason". The Oregonian. July 28, 1950.
- ^ Van Horn, Catherine (December 18, 1984). "Group shares Christmas joy with children". The Oregonian. p. 107.
- ^ "Leong / Young / Jong". Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "Bandit Gets $150 in Cafe Holdup". The Oregonian. August 5, 1947.
- ^ "Shed Destroyed". The Oregonian. July 4, 1949.
- ^ "Montavilla Club to Meet". The Oregonian. June 6, 1939.
- ^ "Stock Dinner Held". The Oregonian. October 13, 1939.
- ^ "Joint Dinner Planned". The Oregonian. March 10, 1950.
- ^ "Joint Meeting Due". The Oregonian. November 20, 1955.
- ^ "Auxiliary Commander to Visit Portland". The Oregonian. May 27, 1959.
- ^ "In brief: Aged group to meet". The Oregonian. June 28, 1964.
- ^ "Noon Parley Billed". The Oregonian. December 14, 1965.
- ^ "$1,700 Stolen". The Oregonian. March 14, 1966.
- ^ "Masked Trio Rob Taven, Kill 1 Man". The Oregonian. July 23, 1966.
- ^ "Police Jail 2 Suspects". The Oregonian. July 23, 1966.
- ^ "Suspect Admits Holdup Guilt". The Oregonian. November 8, 1966.
- ^ "Man Pleads Guilty". The Oregonian. November 15, 1966.
- ^ "Holdup Brings Prison Term". The Oregonian. January 6, 1967.
- ^ "Cafe incident spurs arrest of brothers". The Oregonian. December 2, 1978.
- ^ "Employees reject bid". The Oregonian. October 10, 1985.
- ^ "Merchants set holiday gala for kids". The Oregonian. December 11, 1986.
- ^ Anderson, Heather Arndt (2014-11-13). Portland: A Food Biography. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. ISBN 978-1-4422-2739-2.
- ^ Swindler, Samantha (2025-06-02). "Jade District restaurants honored in new digital archive launched by APANO". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
External links
[edit]- New Cathay at Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon