As the D.C. Council deliberates the city鈥檚 fiscal 2026 budget, one group is pushing council members to reserve money to save Chinatown’s small businesses.
鈥淐hinatown is on the brink of erasure,” Shani Shih, founder of Save Chinatown Solidarity Network, told 小萝莉影视’s Luke Lukert.
On July 1, the Full Kee Restaurant and Gao Ya Hair Salon were vacated from their spots for the development of a new boutique hotel that would combine the historic row homes with a new nine story construction.
鈥淭hey’re really cornerstones of the remaining Chinatown community,鈥� Shih said about the two businesses. 鈥淲hen they think of Chinatown and their childhood memories, and in Chinatown, they think of Full Kee. 鈥� It’s been around for 40 years, affordable, nutritious food, open late night.鈥�
The Save Chinatown Solidarity Network has rallied outside the Wilson Building this month, attempting to push the D.C. Council to make provisions in next fiscal year鈥檚 budget to include a variety of measures the group believes can help preserve the culture of Chinatown.
Shih said they are specifically pushing for tax abatement reform for developers to require them to commit, in writing, to preservation mechanisms for Chinatown.
鈥淭his means if they’re going to build a huge, 200-unit, mixed-use complex 鈥� they will be required to provide community space, or they’ll be required to ensure that the retail that they put in on the first floor is not big box retails,鈥� Shih said. 鈥淣o more McDonald’s and Chipotles. We need community to have input on this retail.鈥�
The Save Chinatown Solidarity Network is also pushing for a larger grant from the city, $550,000 a year, up from $125,000, for preserving small businesses Chinatown.
鈥淲e want to keep D.C. unique, vibrant, diverse and, you know, all the many beautiful communities of the District is what makes D.C. what it is,鈥� Shih said.
The Gallery Place/Chinatown Task Force met earlier this month to discuss the future of the neighborhood. The group recommended the city attract an Asian grocery store as well as new Asian and Chinese businesses.
The first vote on the D.C. budget is expected Monday.
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