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Business Stories of Chinatown
The businesses of Duncan’s historic Chinatown were more than places of commerce; they were gathering places, family enterprises, and essential parts of everyday life in the community.
From laundries and cafés to grocers, herbal shops, and restaurants, these stories explore the entrepreneurs and businesses that helped shape Chinatown’s identity while serving residents across the Cowichan Valley for generations.
Charlie Onn Company
Among the most recognizable business names connected to Duncan’s Chinese community was the Charlie Onn Company.
Located on Station Street, the store evolved over the years into one of downtown Duncan’s best-known retail businesses.
Archival references connect the business to:
• Charlie Onn Company • Thom’s Ladies Wear • Charlie Onn Men’s Wear & Shoes
The business represented a shift from early immigrant survival industries into established retail operations that served the broader community.
Clothing stores, tailoring businesses, and shoe sales required a different type of customer relationship than grocery and produce businesses. These stores became long-term downtown fixtures where generations of residents shopped regularly.
The Charlie Onn story reflects the growth of Chinatown merchant families into major contributors to downtown commercial life.
Pekin Café
Located on McAdam Street, the Pekin Café became one of Chinatown’s best-known gathering places. The café operated long hours — opening late morning and serving customers until midnight.
Menus preserved through archival records describe:
• Chinese dishes • Western meals • Multiple teas • Soups and combination meals
Restaurants such as the Pekin Café often introduced Chinese cuisine to local residents for the first time. But the café also served another important role.
It became a social center.
Workers gathered after long shifts. Families celebrated milestones. Community members exchanged news over meals and tea.
The atmosphere of cafés such as the Pekin helped define the feeling of Chinatown itself.
Wing On Market
Wing On Market became one of the strongest remembered grocery businesses connected to Chinatown.
Produce displays spilled onto the sidewalk while customers moved in and out throughout the day. The market reflected the pace of Chinatown life:
deliveries arriving early, family members stocking shelves, children helping after school, and neighbours gathering outside storefronts.
The business became part of the daily rhythm of downtown Duncan.
Midway Hotel
The Midway Hotel reflected the growing commercial success of Chinatown merchant families during the mid-20th century.
Chinese-owned hotels often acted as more than lodging.
They became support systems for travelling workers, gathering places for the community, and symbols of growing business stability.
The Midway Hotel represented Chinatown’s transition from a collection of small storefront businesses into a more established commercial presence within downtown Duncan.