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Categories: Windsor

Chinee Villa

Back in February of this year, I had post about the Mai-Mai. The owners of the Mai-Mai it was discovered were also the owners of the east side’s Chinee Villa. A few weeks ago, I was out for lunch, and pull into the plaza next to the old Chinee Villa. The building is still standing with it’s lettering on the facade, but it’s been closed for a while. This question goes out to the east-sider’s on here, when did the Chinee Villa close?

I noticed that two businesses in the neigbouring plaza, like vultures, have scavenged the Chinee Villa sign for their own purposes.

Anyone with any memories of the place? On the Mai-Mai post, Scott Hughes asked a good question, what is this City’s oldest Chinese Restaurant?

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Andrew

View Comments

  • yes it was the paradise in the old norwich block my parents used to bring me and my sister there in the early 80s my dad used to like it because it had tall privet boths so people would not see me and my sister being messy lol.

  • Chinatown started in the block that became the Le Goyeau Apts at Goyeau and Riverside. Urban Renewal (an urban planning concept) resulted in the demolition of several blocks in that area in the 1960's.The CIBC at Riverside and Ouellette actually had an Abacus at the counter to serve their Chinese clientele.After the blockbusting was done a small Chinatown gathered on Park St West near Church St.

  • @"ME" : everything in this city is spread out, that's probably Windsor's biggest problem (and legacy of decades of compounding it with short term gain urban sprawl).

  • I think Lee's Imperial House has been around a really long time. I remember that place since I was very young.
    Does anyone remember the Lotus Garden on Ouellette Ave? They had the traditional chinese matron that ran it as well. I remember when I was a little girl thinking she was so exotic.

  • Lee's Imperial House at Ferry and Riverside operated from around 1935 to 1984. It wasn't really a restaurant rather a bar and hotel. House of Lee on Pelissier is the restaurant that is still in operation. It has definitly been around since the 60s.

    Joe is correct about the placements of the two early Chinatowns. They set up near Church, because at the time, many Chinese attendent St Andrews Pres Church. No Chinese business remain in the area.

    Gary there was no Lees Imperial House at Pitt and Goyeau rather Ferry and Riverside.

  • I would have to say Pagoda, my parents went there when they were children. Besides being open so long the food is amazing. Located at Pillette & Wyandotte.

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Andrew

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