Butte was established in the late 1800s and since then we’ve seen many companies and establishments come and go. However, there is one restaurant that’s been here for as long as most any of us can remember. To take that a step further, it is the oldest continuously running Chinese food establishment in America. The Pekin Noodle Parlor was opened in 1911 by Hum Yow and Tam Kwong Yee and to this day, the it is loved by many. 

Danny Wong was the great nephew of the owner and eventually bought the business when his uncle retired. If you’ve ever been to the Pekin, chances are you’ve met Danny Wong. Wong ran the business for over 60 years with his wife Sharon Chu. Sadly, both have passed away but their son, Jerry Tam has taken over the family business and is doing an amazing job keeping the legacy alive. To show our love to Danny, there is now a dedicated day to celebrate him as well as a street that now holds his name.  

It’s stated by The New York Times The longtime owner and face of Pekin Noodle Parlor, the oldest family-owned, continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the United States, ordered servers to lock the front door at the sound of fast footsteps rattling the floorboards. Diners trying to flee the second-story dining room without paying would turn back up the steep stairs in search of another route, only to find Mr. Wong standing there, holding a bayonet and offering a choice: Pay your bill or wash dishes.” If nothing else shows you the commitment Danny had to his business, that should.  

The Pekin in all of its beauty and glory is one of the few parts of Butte’s Chinatown that is still running and has been since the very beginning. With the bright colors inside of the booths that are made private by curtains you can close, the Pekin has captured the hearts of many. People have made countless memories in the building for over a century and we hope to see it make many more for years to come. 

 

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