Yiu Hai Seto Quon facts for kids

Yiu Hai Seto Quon (born October 30, 1899 – died July 9, 1999), often called "Mama Quon", was an important Chinese-American chef and businesswoman. She was also a well-known leader in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles.

Her Early Life Journey

Yiu Hai Seto grew up in China. When she was a young woman, she married Him Gin Quon. He was an American resident whose father owned a restaurant in Los Angeles's Chinatown. Yiu Hai stayed in Guangdong, China, after her husband went back to California. Their first daughter, Katherine, was born there in 1917. Yiu Hai and Katherine later moved to Los Angeles to join Him Gin Quon in 1922.

Building a Business and Community

Opening the Grand Star Restaurant

In 1946, Yiu Hai Quon and her husband opened a restaurant. They worked with their sons, Frank and Wallace. The restaurant was called the Quon Brothers Grand Star Restaurant. Mrs. Quon was the main chef for many years. She was great at making Chinese dishes that both Chinese and American customers loved. She kept working in the kitchen and greeting guests at the Grand Star even when she was in her nineties. She only stopped in 1997 after she broke her hip.

A Valued Community Figure

In her later years, Yiu Hai Quon was often celebrated for her contributions to the community. People saw her as a very important person in Chinatown.

• In 1984, she was part of a photo exhibit. This exhibit showed nine important Chinese-American women in Los Angeles. It was displayed at the Kennedy Library at California State University at Los Angeles.
• In 1988, she was one of three women honored by the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. This happened during the fiftieth anniversary parade in Chinatown.
• In 1994, she was featured in a public art project. Photographer Carol Nye highlighted four Chinese-American women, including Yiu Hai Quon.

Family and Lasting Impact

The Quons had nine children together: seven daughters and two sons. Yiu Hai Seto Quon's husband passed away in 1965. She died in the summer of 1999 in Montebello, California. She was either 99, 101, or 102 years old when she passed away.

Her family has continued to be involved in the community. Her son Wallace Quon, her grandsons Tony Quon and Larry Jung, and her great-grandson Jason Fujimoto have all served on the board of the Los Angeles Chinatown Corporation.

The Grand Star restaurant is still open today in Chinatown. It is now a bar and jazz club. Yiu Hai Seto Quon's life and the Grand Star restaurant are the main focus of a short movie. It's called "One Night at the Grand Star" and was made by Natasha Uppal in 2004.