Main Café was located at 511 Jackson Street in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. “When Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was bombed December 7, 1941, America entered World War II. The Japanese people on the west coast of the US were forced into internment camps; a small restaurant with four booths and a curved hardwood counter with 10-12 swivel chairs became available when the occupants hastily left for the camps. Father was notified of its availability by the cousins who were living in Seattle… Father had a strong entrepreneurial spirit, an attitude to have his own business... and headed to Seattle to take over the business in April, 1942… Members of the family learned the trade ‘by faking and making it’ and soon the business was crowded with customers… The restaurant crew labored 16 hours a day to cook, serve meals, clean up and again prepare for the next day.” 

– Maegan Chew

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant