Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge |
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The restaurant's entrance and neon sign, 2017
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1922 |
| Previous owner(s) |
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| Food type | Chinese |
| Street address | 222 NW 4th Avenue |
| City | Portland |
| County | Multnomah |
| State | Oregon |
| Postal/ZIP code | 97209 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 45°31′30″N 122°40′28″W / 45.52496°N 122.67441°W |
The Republic Cafe and Ming Lounge is a well-known Chinese restaurant and bar in Portland, Oregon. It is located in the city's historic Old Town Chinatown area. This restaurant is one of Portland's oldest, first opening its doors in 1922.
Today, the Mui family still owns and runs the Republic Cafe. It serves popular Chinese dishes like Mongolian beef, General Tso's chicken, chop suey, and egg foo young. Many people see the Republic Cafe as a very important part of the neighborhood. It also plays a big role in the Chinese American history of the city. Even some famous people have visited this restaurant over the years. The Ming Lounge is also one of the oldest bars in Portland.
The Restaurant's Home
The building where the Republic Cafe is located has a special history. In 1989, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. It is part of the Portland New Chinatown–Japantown Historic District.
The building was designed by a company called Houghtaling & Dougan. It was built for O.B. Stubbs. The construction was finished in 1922 by the Zanella Brothers. It cost about $15,000 to build. The Stubbs family owned the building until 1945. Over the years, many different Chinese and Japanese businesses were located in the building. These included barbershops and other restaurants.
The building is made of concrete and has a flat roof. Its outside walls are covered in stucco. The entrance was updated in 1960. The rest of the outside of the building was changed in 1974. Records show that the Republic Cafe first opened in this building in 1930.
