Oakland Chinatown economy slowly recovering from Covid-19 closures, anti-Asian violence

Gradual resumption of business activity is a promising sign for overseas Chinese, but many remain wary of reopening doors, and kerbside sales are more common

Public events in Chinatown are regaining popularity, and eateries have extended hours past the cautious 5pm norm of 2021

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A mural of Chinese Zodiac signs are painted onto the wood used to board up a historic building in Oakland’s Chinatown. Photo: Ralph Jennings

Ralph Jenningsin Oakland, California

Published: 10:15pm, 16 Mar 2022Updated: 2:46am, 17 Mar 2022

Last year, a stranger approached Wong Shue-teung, 73, on a pavement in Chinatown in the northern California city of Oakland and pushed him to the ground. “He happened to take a swing at me, and I went down,” Wong recalled.

A few weeks ago, just a few blocks away from where he was attacked, the retired insurance salesman bought takeout wonton soup and two local newspapers. He ate and read on the veranda of a mall full of Chinese-owned businesses.

“It’s safe,” Wong said, “and during the daytime you can see who is coming.”

Wong’s story echoes around the compact, 20-square-block Chinatown, and his purchases, regardless of how small, are helping rekindle a district economy that the Oakland Chamber of Commerce says has shrunk by 15 per cent since 2020, including the loss of two of its anchor restaurants.

Merchants and their customers now say Oakland Chinatown is emerging from its most dangerous days at the height of anti-Asian violence fuelled by resentment toward China as a source of Covid-19.

They say safety has improved since August, when the Oakland Police Department stationed cars and officers in their part of a 446,000-population city where Cantonese immigrants reside to escape higher prices in nearby San Francisco. But it remains a city that analytics firm Neighborhood Scout in January called the 30th most dangerous in America, with 13 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

Oakland Chinatown economy slowly recovering from Covid-19 closures, anti-Asian violence

Gradual resumption of business activity is a promising sign for overseas Chinese, but many remain wary of reopening doors, and kerbside sales are more common Public events in Chinatown are regaining popularity, and eateries have extended hours past the cautious 5pm norm of 2021

Gradual resumption of business activity is a promising sign for overseas Chinese, but many remain wary of reopening doors, and kerbside sales are more common

Public events in Chinatown are regaining popularity, and eateries have extended hours past the cautious 5pm norm of 2021