The Pekin Cafe​

 

Located on McAdam Street, the Pekin Café operated long hours and served both Chinese and Western-style dishes. 

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Archival materials describe a menu that included: 

• Multiple varieties of tea • Soups • Chinese dishes • Western meals 

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The restaurant operated daily from late morning until midnight, reflecting the demanding schedules of family-run businesses during the era. 

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For many residents, cafés such as the Pekin became some of the first places they experienced Chinese food and hospitality.

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A Social Gathering Place

 

Restaurants within Chinatown were more than businesses. 

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They were gathering places where friendships formed, news was exchanged, and community life unfolded. 

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Workers finished long shifts and gathered for meals. Families celebrated milestones. Downtown residents stopped in regularly and became familiar with the owners and staff. 

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The Pekin Café became part of the social fabric of downtown Duncan.

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Preservation Through Archives

 

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Pekin Café story is how pieces of its history survived. 

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Menus, photographs, and archival materials connected to the restaurant were preserved before remaining Chinatown structures disappeared. 

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These materials now provide an important window into daily life within Chinatown and help modern audiences understand the atmosphere, culture, and experiences that once existed there.

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Legacy

 

The story of Sue Lem Bing and the Pekin Café reflects: 

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• The importance of restaurants within Chinatown • Family-run business culture • The blending of Chinese and Western community life • The value of preserving everyday history 

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Through surviving menus, photographs, and memories, the Pekin Café continues to help tell the story of Duncan’s Chinatown. 

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