[MUSIC PLAYING] (upbeat music) [MUSIC PLAYING] - My father always said that out of all the places My father always said that out of all the places in Manhattan, - My father always said that out of all the places My father always said that out of all the places in Manhattan, in Manhattan that Chinatown has the most character.

that Chinatown has the most character.

in Manhattan that Chinatown has the most character.

that Chinatown has the most character.

- It's very important for us as a group It's very important for us as a group to stay in Chinatown.

- It's very important for us as a group It's very important for us as a group to stay in Chinatown.

to stay in Chinatown, right?

You know, we're watching Chinatown is shrinking rapidly to stay in Chinatown, right?

You know, we're watching Chinatown is shrinking rapidly You know, we're watching Chinatown shrinking rapidly from when we grew up.

You know, we're watching Chinatown shrinking rapidly from when we grew up.

from when we grew up, it's shrinking rapidly.

It's shrinking rapidly.

from when we grew up, it's shrinking rapidly.

It's shrinking rapidly.

You know, gentrification, real estate development.

Gentrification, velocity, development, You know, gentrification, real estate development.

I mean, look next door.

You know, gentrification, real estate development.

I mean, look next door.

I mean, look next door, there's a giant condo There's a giant condo next door.

I mean, look next door, there's a giant condo There's a giant condo next door.

next door right now.

That used to be a producer house.

next door right now.

That used to be a producer house.

That used to be a produce warehouse.

I think that you can kind of take tradition and respect That used to be a produce warehouse.

I think that you can kind of take tradition and respect I think that you can kind of take tradition I think that you can kind of take tradition and respect and respect it, but also show it in a new light, it, but also show it in a new light.

and respect it, but also show it in a new light, You know what I'm saying?

and respect it, but also show it in a new light, You know what I'm saying?

you know what I'm saying?

You know what I'm saying?

And take it to the future.

And take it to the future.

And take it to the future.

And take it to the future.

(upbeat music) My name is David Leung and I'm a majority owner of Wilhelm.

- My name is David Leung, and I'm a majority My name is David Leung and I'm a majority owner of Wilhelm.

owner of Wo Hop.

My name is David Leung and I'm a majority owner of Wilhelm.

(upbeat music) Wilhelm is a restaurant that's been here for 80 years, over (upbeat music) Wilhelm is a restaurant that's been here for 80 years, over Wo Hop is a restaurant that's been here for 80 years, 80 years, and it's been a main state here where the second Wo Hop is a restaurant that's been here for 80 years, 80 years, and it's been a main state here where the second over 80 years, and it's been a mainstay here.

80 years, and it's been a main state here where the second We're the second oldest restaurant in Chinatown.

oldest restaurant in Chinatown.

We're the second oldest restaurant in Chinatown.

People have come here for generations.

We're the second oldest restaurant in Chinatown.

People have come here for generations.

People have come here for generations.

We get people who talk about how their grandparents We get people who talk about how their grandparents brought them here when there were kids and that We get people who talk about how their grandparents brought them here when there were kids and that brought them here when they were kids, brought them here when there were kids and that and that they're still coming here, they're still coming here and that really makes me happy to and that they're still coming here, they're still coming here and that really makes me happy to and that really makes me happy to know that that's know that that's possible and that exists.

and that really makes me happy to know that that's know that that's possible and that exists.

possible and that that exists.

It opened in 1938, but you guys got possible and that that exists.

It opened in 1938, but you guys got It opened in 1938. together, it's immigrants too, this start your own business It opened in 1938. together, it's immigrants too, this start your own business A bunch of guys got together, together, it's immigrants too, this start your own business as immigrants do, to start their own business together, it's immigrants too, this start your own business because they didn't want to just be laborers because they didn't want to just be laborers because they didn't want to just be laborers because they didn't want to just be laborers for their whole lives.

because they didn't want to just be laborers for the whole lives.

The interesting thing was that they wanted to start a The interesting thing was that they wanted to start a Chinese Chinese restaurant but they didn't have the original The interesting thing was that they wanted to start a Chinese Chinese restaurant but they didn't have the original restaurant, but they didn't have the original ingredients that ingredients that they grew up with back in restaurant, but they didn't have the original ingredients that ingredients that they grew up with back in they grew up with back in China, so they had to sort of tweak China so they had to sort of treat the recipe to they grew up with back in China, so they had to sort of tweak China so they had to sort of treat the recipe to the recipe to make it more Americanized in a way, because make it more Americanized in a way because they the recipe to make it more Americanized in a way, because call them the source the ingredients from local stores.

the recipe to make it more Americanized in a way, because call them the source the ingredients from local stores.

they could only source the ingredients from local stores.

call them the source the ingredients from local stores.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) My grandfather wasn't here at the very beginning.

- My grandfather wasn't here at the very beginning, My grandfather wasn't here at the very beginning.

sometime in the '50s, I believe, and then my father got Sometimes in the 50s I believe and then my father sometime in the '50s, I believe, and then my father got Sometimes in the 50s I believe and then my father involved after that, and then now I'm the got involved after that and then now I'm the third generation.

involved after that, and then now I'm the got involved after that and then now I'm the third generation.

third generation owner.

The important thing that has kept us going is that we've third generation owner.

The important thing that has kept us going is that we've (upbeat music) The important thing that has kept us going is that we've The important thing that has kept us going is that we've The important thing that has kept us going maintained our consistency of who we are, what we look The important thing that has kept us going maintained our consistency of who we are, what we look is that we've maintained our consistency of who we are, like and our food.

is that we've maintained our consistency of who we are, like and our food.

what we look like, and our food.

That's the important thing that people what we look like, and our food.

That's the important thing that people That's the important thing.

that come for decades maybe come once a year, once every That's the important thing.

that come for decades maybe come once a year, once every People that come for decades, maybe that come for decades maybe come once a year, once every they come once a year, once every five years, they'll five years.

they come once a year, once every five years, they'll They'll come back and I've read reviews of this they come once a year, once every five years, they'll They'll come back and I've read reviews of this come back and I've read reviews, they're saying, "Oh, food's saying food exactly the same as it was 10 years ago when I was come back and I've read reviews, they're saying, "Oh, food's saying food exactly the same as it was 10 years ago when I was exactly the same as it was ten years ago when I first started first started to come here or look exactly the same.

exactly the same as it was ten years ago when I first started first started to come here or look exactly the same.

coming here," or, "It looked exactly the same."

first started to come here or look exactly the same.

And in fact, when I opened up the new In fact when I opened up the new seating And in fact, when I opened up the new In fact when I opened up the new seating seating section upstairs and I wanted to make it look more more with the times compared to more with the times compared tot what we have here, the architect ttim"No, you can't do that.have I was working with said no you can't do that.

"No, you can't do that.

I was working with said no you can't do that.

You're known for a certain look, so you You're known for a certain look so you have You're known for a certain look, so you You're known for a certain look so you have have to maintain that."

to make clean that.

have to maintain that."

Yeah it's surprising when celebrities have to maintain that."

Yeah it's surprising when celebrities Yeah, it's surprising when celebrities drop drop by but we'll find out maybe that after they've gone maybe Yeah, it's surprising when celebrities drop drop by but we'll find out maybe that after they've gone maybe gone, maybe some paparazzi might be posting a picture some paparazzi might be posting a picture saying oh gonesaying, "Oh, guessazzi who was at Warhawk?"

guess who was at Warhawk.

saying, "Oh, guess who was at Warhawk?"

Not just celebrities that also the do-filming here too.

Not just celebrities that come by to eat, but there's also, also the do-filming here too.

they do filming here too.

also the do-filming here too.

So we've had TV series do filming here, So we've had TV series So we've had TV series do-filming here, movies movies do filming here.

they can't get do-anywhere else anymore.ike tSo they like the retro look that they can't get they can't get anywhere else anymore.

anywhere else anymore.

It's important that restaurants and businesses anywhere else anymore.

It's important that restaurants and businesses It's important that restaurants and businesses It's important that restaurants and businesses like us survive like us survive in order to maintain some semblance of It's important that restaurants and businesses like us survive like us survive in order to maintain some semblance of in order to maintain some semblance of identity like us survive in order to maintain some semblance of of Chinatown.

like us survive in order to maintain some semblance of like us survive in order to maintain some semblance of (upbeat music) identity of Chinatown.

(upbeat music) My name is Christina Seed and I'm the (upbeat music) My name is Christina Seed and I'm the My name is Christina Seed and I'm the - My name is Christina Seed, and I'm the owner of the owner of the Chinatown ice cream factory.

- My name is Christina Seed, and I'm the owner of the owner of the Chinatown ice cream factory.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

Those people refer to us as an unofficial landmark of Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

Those people refer to us as an unofficial landmark of Most people refer to us as an unofficial landmark Those people refer to us as an unofficial landmark of of Chinatown, which is quite a compliment.

Chinatown, which is quite a compliment.

of Chinatown, which is quite a compliment.

Chinatown, which is quite a compliment.

So when you think about the late So when you think about the late So when you think about the late '70s, 70s, that's when ice cream industry really took off.

So when you think about the late '70s, 70s, that's when ice cream industry really took off.

that's when ice cream industry really took off.

70s, that's when ice cream industry really took off.

There was always ice cream, but it wasn't the way we There was always ice cream, but it wasn't the way we There was always ice cream, but it wasn't the way we There was always ice cream, but it wasn't the way we think of like big chains.

think of like big chains.

think of like big chains.

So in the late 70s, my father in the same location, he think of like big chains.

So in the late 70s, my father in the same location, he So in the late '70s, my father in the same location, So in the late 70s, my father in the same location, he he actually started more of a cafe, actually started more of a cafe, like a sandwich shop with like he actually started more of a cafe, actually started more of a cafe, like a sandwich shop with like like a sandwich shop with like a liquor license.

a liquor license.

like a sandwich shop with like a liquor license.

It didn't work out because neighborhood like a sandwich shop with like a liquor license.

It didn't work out because neighborhood It didn't work out because neighborhood wasn't ready for that.

It didn't work out because neighborhood wasn't ready for that.

wasn't ready for that.

wasn't ready for that.

So it went out of business.

So went out of business, so then he So it went out of business.

So went out of business, so then he So then he adapted it to be an ice cream adapted it to be in ice cream, because my father caught on to So then he adapted it to be an ice cream adapted it to be in ice cream, because my father caught on to because my father caught on to that.

that, that's when the trend was, and he wanted to make something because my father caught on to that.

that, that's when the trend was, and he wanted to make something That's when the trend was.

that, that's when the trend was, and he wanted to make something And he wanted to make something more unique more unique for thmore unique for.

Anthe Asian palette.e for the Asian palette.

The story started in 77, 78, and I was born in 80, for the Asian palette.

The story started in 77, 78, and I was born in 80, The store started in '77, '78, and I was born in '80.

and I started working here about 12, because as a small And I started working here about 12, and I started working here about 12, because as a small because as a small business owner, business owner, families know all aspects of the business because as a small business owner, business owner, families know all aspects of the business families know all aspects of the business, because it's like so much a part of your life, it's not just families know all aspects of the business, because it's like so much a part of your life, it's not just becIt's not just a jobuch ato the individual.

aIt was not glamorous.l.

It's not just a job to the individual.. It was actually Ivery much a burden.. My father was really, really put his life on the line on the line for the store literally.

My father was really, really put his life on the line on the line for the store literally.

for the store, literally.

on race, gangs, you know, so then we had the Chinese gangs.

At that time, gang culture, you know, race on race, gangs, onThe gangs were pillage, so theand they just collectedngs.

you know, so then wee had the Chinese gangs.

The gangs were pillage money and everybody was scared.

The gangs would pillage and they just collected money money and everybody was scared.

and everybody was scared.

There was no unity among the business owners and everybody was scared.

beYou know, they don'tred I asked my dad when I was.

I askyoung why he wouldn'tyoung 'cause for me, it's very clear.

running from things and that yrunning from things and that.

you have to stand your ground.

'causethe busin♪t's very cle ♪ We're three decades with my father harmoniously and I I worked three decades with my father, harmoniously.

We're three decades with my father harmoniously and I And I feel so blessed.

feel so blessed and it's like people, you know, like why And I feel so blessed.

feel so blessed and it's like people, you know, like why And it's like, people, you know, like, feel so blessed and it's like people, you know, like why "Why would you want to do this job?

do you want to do this job?

"Why would you want to do this job?

do you want to do this job?

You just scoop ice cream."

You just scoop ice cream.

You just scoop ice cream."

You just scoop ice cream.

This is, like, my craft.

This is like my craft.

This is, like, my craft.

This is like my craft.

This is my art.

This is my art.

This is my art.

father.

This is where I met I'm part of so many moments.

This is where I met a lot of my friends.

I'm part of so many moments.

And I'm part of so many moments.

I'Like if you look at ourts.

wall, we are part of so many wapeople's little moments.

people's little moments.

people's little moments.

people's little moments.

It was a way for me to be part of a lot of people's lives.

Iof a lot of people's lives.rt It was a way for me to be part of a lot of people's lives.

What makes our business special versus change, it's made with It wWhat makes our businessa special versus chains?

What makes our business special versus change, it's made with It's made with love.

What makes our business special versus change, it's made with Very cheesy to say, but made with love.

love.

Very cheesy to say, but made with love.

Very cheesy to say, but made with love.

love.

Very cheesy to say, but made with love.

People ask why our business was able to last so long, People ask why our last so long and it's love.

People ask why our business was able to last so long, last so long and it's love.

and it's love, because me and my father Because me and my father that we gave it our all.

loved each other so much that we gave it our all.

that we gave it our all.

(upbeat music) that we gave it our all.

I know Chinatown, the space just connects everybody I know Chinatown, the space just connects everybody.

I know Chinatown, the space just connects everybody And whether you live here anymore, or you don't live here, and whether you live here anymore or you don't And whether you live here anymore, or you don't live here, live here or you just had some memories playing basketball And whether you live here anymore, or you don't live here, live here or you just had some memories playing basketball or you just had some memories playing basketball live here or you just had some memories playing basketball in the park down the block.

in the park down the block.

in the park down the block.

in the park down the block.

You still feel connected to the space and that energy You still feel connected to the space and that energy lives You still feel connected to the space and that energy for generations and that's really special.

lives for generations and that's really special.

for generations and that's really special.

for generations and that's really special.

I started this with a four of my other friends.

I started this with four of my other friends.

We've been friends with real little I started this with four of my other friends.

We've been friends with real little We've been friends since we were little kids, We've been friends with real little about 12, 13 years old.

kids, about 12, 13 years old.

about 12, 13 years old.

Paola Club, we'd like to say at Paola Club everyone brings about 12, 13 years old.

Paola Club, we'd like to say at Paola Club everyone brings Potluck Club, we like to say at Potluck Club, Paola Club, we'd like to say at Paola Club everyone brings everyone brings something to the table.

something to the table.

everyone brings something to the table.

something to the table.

Not necessarily a dish, but you know, Not necessarily a dish but you know Not necessarily a dish, but you know, Not necessarily a dish but you know everything in Cantonese kind of upbringing everything in Cantonese kind of upbringing is a family style.

everything in Cantonese kind of upbringing everything in Cantonese kind of upbringing is a family style.

is a family style.

everything in Cantonese kind of upbringing is a family style.

So we're always sitting at this table.

So we're always sitting at this table, someone always So we're always sitting at this table.

So we're always sitting at this table, someone always Someone always brings something to the table, brings something to the table whether it be a story, some Someone always brings something to the table, brings something to the table whether it be a story, some whether it be a story, some laughter, some conversation.

laughter, some conversation.

whether it be a story, some laughter, some conversation.

Yeah, this is our culture.

whether it be a story, some laughter, some conversation.

Yeah, this is our culture.

Yeah, this is our culture.

Yeah, this is our culture.

Everything in here is built off of our nostalgia Everything in here is built off of our nostalgia, being growing Everything in here is built off of our nostalgia Everything in here is built off of our nostalgia, being growing of being growing up in Chinatown in New York.

up in Chinatown, in New York, whether it be from the movies, Whether it be from the movies, Hong Kong classic movies Hong Kong classic movies that we learned our Wheththat we learned our culture through, culture through to comic have at your grandma's house.

to comic books, to things that you have kind of be in this environment, kind of be in this environment, slike kind of understand.

(upbeat music) The menu, of course, is not your typical Chinatown The menu, of course, is not your typical Chinatown menu menu that you're going to have literally 200 items on.

The menu, of course, is not your typical Chinatown menu menu that you're going to have literally 200 items on.

that you're gonna have literally 200 items on.

Once again, it's hit on a lot of the nostalgia, things that that you're gonna have literally 200 items on.

Once again, it's hit on a lot of the nostalgia, things that Once again, it's hit on a lot of the nostalgia, Once again, it's hit on a lot of the nostalgia, things that things that were really, really classic were really, really classic and rooted to us growing up in things that were really, really classic were really, really classic and rooted to us growing up in and rooted to us growing up in Chinatown, Chinatown.

All our favorites, but Chef Zan has done it and rooted to us growing up in Chinatown, Chinatown.

All our favorites, Chinatown.

All our favorites, but Chef Zan has done it in kind of new, fresh ways.

in kind of new, fresh way.

in kind of new, fresh ways.

in kind of new, fresh ways.

♪♪ This address 133, Chrisyshoot is very significant to my family This address, 133 Christie Street, This address 133, Chrisyshoot is very significant to my family is very significant to my family personally.

This address 133, Chrisyshoot is very significant to my family You know, I grew up in this very space, personally.

I grew up in this very space in this very You know, I grew up in this very space, personally.

I grew up in this very space in this very in this very building.

building.

My family had a, on my mom's side had in this very building.

building.

My family had a, on my mom's side had My family had a -- On my mom's side, had a family business here that ran for well over 40 My family had a -- On my mom's side, had years.

And this whole area, the Lansi Allen, Chrisyshoot was a family business here that ran for well over 40 years.

years.

And this whole area, the Lansi Allen, Chrisyshoot was Christie Street was a lot of produce warehouses, a lot of produce warehouses a lot of produce warehouses and we were one of them.t and we were one of them.

a lot of produce warehouses and we were one of them.

(soft music) a lot of produce warehouses and we were one of them.

I mean, like this was after school program.

I mean, like this was after school program.

This was summer camps at the same time.

You know, summer camp play soccer at Chelsea pairs.

You know, summer camp wasn'tt going to go play soccer play soccer at Chelsea pairs.

at Chelsea Pairs.

It was your hair, you're doing your tutoring, math at Chelsea Pairs.

That's how we grew uload n That's how with it.

load thee IttrAnd it's like, there's nothing wrong with it.

with it.

It's honest immigrant living.

My whole entire family It'worked super duper hard.g.

It'sMy whole entire family worked super duper hard.

The landscape of Chinatown is changing and also through mys changiThe landscape ofugh my Chinatown is changing.

ggeneration the millennial kids chthhere are very humbly.edy Andwere born and raised hereon, very humbly, they're leaving, here are very humbly.

they're doing better, right?

They're leaving.

they're doing better, right?

So they're leaving them that so when that happens Chinatown thpulled from both sides.

is getting pulled from both sides.

pulled from both sides.

do this build like this, build do this build like this, build a modern, cool, fun, sexy, cool, fun, sexy, and also keep and also keep drawing crowds and also keep drawing crowdss here Chinatown will disappear codisappear even quicker."

even quicker.

disappear even quicker."

That's w We're here to stay.

That's why we built ithe second city.

di We're here to stay.

We're here to stay.

WheWe're continuing to build the WhnWe're continuing to build the neiin the case may be.verand We're proud of our neighborhood.

the case may be.

This is what we know.

We're so happy to take We'caWe're so happy to takehoo We'care of our community and and to keep the energy here.

to keep the energy here.

and to keep the energy here.

to keep the energy here.

This is our slice of New York.

Bethnicities and cultures and tand make it rich in culture.s Thoofand they build their neighborhoods and make and make it rich in culture.

it rich in culture.

it rich in culture.

We feed 250 seniors every month here in Potluck We feed 200, 250 seniors every month here in Potluck Club.

Club.

We partner with our good friend Winston from We feed 200, 250 seniors every month here in Potluck Club.

Club.

We partner with our good friend Winston from We partner with our good friend Winston from More Than a Meal.

more than a meal.

We partner with our good friend Winston from More Than a Meal.

It's a nonprofit that fights food We partner with our good friend Winston from More Than a Meal.

It's a nonprofit that fights food It's a nonprofit that fights food insecurity insecurity and stuff like that.

It's a nonprofit that fights food insecurity insecurity and stuff like that.

and stuff like that.

insecurity and stuff like that.

But it's beautiful.

But it's beautiful.

But it's beautiful.

Every month we have 250 senior citizens from our neighborhood.

They come, we provide them with groceries, fruits, fresh juices, and they get to come and some groof them get to come in andes They come, we provide them with groceries, fruits, fresh juices, and they get to come and some of them get to come in and and they get to come, and some of them get and they get to come and some of them get to come in and to come in and dine in.

dine in.

to come in and dine in.

Every month they get to come in and they get to to come in and dine in.

loTin a space and nondg outone bothers them.ds.

EveThey get to dine and laugh hangand chit-chat in a spaceds.

in a space and no one bothers them.

and no one bothers them.

were very bleak and dark in Chinatown because We started during the pandemic when things were very theYou know when the worlderly yleveled out and everyone bleyouAnd elderly werek,own becatgetting attacked.

narrative it's not aboutw fnarrative it's not aboutss food insecurity or darkness it's about giving thanks.

itprivilege as a luxury myut liprivilege as a luxury my's life is a privilege now it's a My life is a privilege.y.

privilege as a luxury my life is a privilege now it's Now it's not about darkness, it's about giving them not about darkness it's about giving them thanks Nowthanks for the entire life that we've ever for the entire lif for the entire life that we've ever provided and provided and beyond.

beyond.

Look at how many people there are every month.

provided and beyond.

beyond.

Look at how many people there are every mon beyond.

Look at how many people there are every month.

I hope that we are doing it right and we're I hope that we are doing it right I hope that we are doing it right and we're and we're making them proud and I'm making my making them proud and I'm making my grandparents and we're making them proud and I'm making my making them proud and I'm making my grandparents grandparents proud who aren't no longer with us, proud who aren't no longer with us but I hope that they do grandparents proud who aren't no longer with us, proud who aren't no longer with us but I hope that they do but I hope that they do kind of see this kind of see this in one way or another.

but I hope that they do kind of see this kind of see this in one way or another.

in one way or another.

As you know things change over the years in one way or another.

As you know things change over the years As you know, things change over the years, especially over 80 years but we need to maintain some As you know, things change over the years, especially over 80 years but we need to maintain some especially over 80 years, but we need to especially over 80 years but we need to maintain some maintain some semblance of what we're all about semblance of what we're all about and what made us maintain some semblance of what we're all about semblance of what we're all about and what made us and what made us Chinatown as a neighborhood.

Chinatown as a as a neighborhood.

and what made us Chinatown as a neighborhood.

Chinatown as a as a neighborhood.

Being a small business is even more essential Being a small business is even more essential Being a small business is even more essential at this time at this time because we're unique.

Being a small business is even more essential at this time at this time because we're unique.

because we're unique.

at this time because we're unique.

This is something that is part of history, This is something that is part of history and This is something that is part of history, This is something that is part of history and and then hopefully we can document those things then hopefully we can document those things and still and then hopefully we can document those things then hopefully we can document those things and still and still be remembered.

be remembered but I think it's part of the character and still be remembered.