| 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.
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.
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]
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]
