Back in February of this year, I had a 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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I ate at the Chinee Villa once–around the time I moved out to the eastside–I think 2002 or 2003…can’t say I was impressed–but it’s an interesting old building with a 1970s vibe and no windows (much like the Tai-Yin further east in Tecumseh). I don’t think the place was open much longer after I visited–if I had to ballpark a closure date I’d say maybe 2004…2005 at the latest. It’s been in it’s current condition ever since–with a little tagging.
I think it’s been closed for at least 5 years or so. A couple of co-workers and I went there for lunch once (about 2004/5?), and then tried again a month or so later and it was shuttered. All I really remember is that it was pretty cold in there. Food must have been ok for us to agree to return.
the oldest chinese restaurant i think may be the rickshaw
Rickshaw is now closed as well.
I remember teh food at Chinee Villa to be rather good when I was kid. But I can’t say how it was later on.
I like the Serenity Plus. It looks like it too has fallen on hard times.
Not sure on this one, but the “House of Lee” downtown as been around forever…and it hasn’t changed a bit.
The House of Lee would be a very good guess. My parents took us there back in the early 1960s for our first taste of Chinese food. I’m not sure when it first opened.
In the mid 1970s a bunch of us from St.Clair College would go to the Chinee Villa. It was quite good…yes very much like the Tai-Yin today in decor with no windows.
I seem to remember it opening in the early 1970’s. There was very little out there. I think the McDonalds opened about the same time.
I’m thinking Lee’s Imperial House but anybody know how long Harvey Lo’s been on Wyandotte East or if it is still operating
A friend of mine is 3rd generation Chinese-Canadian and she told me that her great-grandfather came over to BC to work on the railways and wanted to stay. At that time, if you were Chinese you were only allowed to do two things: work in a laundromat or a Chinese restaurant. He opted for the laundromat but many others went the restaurant route. According to her, this is why even the smallest of cities in Canada have Chinese restaurants.
According to the 1919 Vernor’s City Directory (http://www.archive.org/details/vernonswindsor00vernuoft), there was a Chinese Restaurant (no name is given) on 25 Sandwich Street West, and a Dominion Chinese Cafe on 59 Sandwich East.
The Lone Fone on Walker road has been around for a while, I think the mid 60’s.
I grew up on Rick Shaw chinese food. It was a great restaurant.
I went to the china villa way backin the 70’s with my wife i can’t remember how good the food was somone mentioned that the rickshaw on ouellette was closed i was just there thispast winter i honestly don’tknow how these chinese places manage to make any money i guess they survive on take out orders the Pagoda at pillette and wyandotte has the best food
what was the name of the chinese restaurant that was upstairs in the Norwich block i remember they had a fire and that kind of sealed there fate you had to climb one hell of a set of stairs toget to it
Was it the Paradise in the Norwich block?
Gary, I seem to remember one there called “The Forum”??
I remember my dad saying he was a friend of the son of the owner of the house of lee.. that would have been in the late 1940’s early 1950’s..
I thought Wyandotte St. W was where Chinatown started. Wouldn’t the oldest Chinese Restaurant be on Wyandotte St in Chinatown? Perhaps, Jade Garden or one of the others on that street?
David, Jade is very new as it was the old Mission. Windsor’s China community is too spread out. It if was more dense or more in one area it would make the 3rd best (IMO)China town in Canada.
Paula i believe your right the Paradise ya thats it! thank you
if i recall waaay back in the 60’s there was a Lee’s imperial house bar and grill at street level on pit and goyaeu street at the base ofthe parking garage i might be wrong
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.
When I was a kid I called it Chinese McDonalds. This was due to it’s proximaty to McHeartattack.
@”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.
How old is the House of Lee at Pelissier and Wyandotte?
What about Harvey Lo’s Yummy House on 1144 Wyandotte? That’s been there a long time.
Harvey Lo’s Opened in 1979…
http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=798
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.
I think that Chinee Villa has been closed for quite a few years now.
Not about Chinee Villa but the little plaza next to it; in the 1970’s Louie’s Barber Shop was where the Subway is now, and the current barber shop and Serenity were the offices of Mullins and Mullins Law Firm.
As far as Serenity looking like it’s fallen on tough times (ME), I was in there yesterday and the owner is in the middle of renovating.
I was at the House Of Lee today, and the owner said it opened in 1963. Before, the House Of Lee, it was called the Maple Leaf (not sure if that was also a Chinese restaurant…maybe someone could chime in here)
Hey Joe-
Remember me? send an e-mail-I have been researching where my Mother lived in the 1920’s-right down the street from the house we had on ? street-hope you are doing fine
John Middlesworth
concerning the old china town around park and chuch on the south side of park there used tobe a row of chinese grociers and on the sidewalk right where that apartment building is n/e corner there was a red star painted on the sidewalk for the longest time
I used to work across the street from the Rickshaw in the mid 1970s and my future husband and I had our first date there in December of 1975. We recently went back there for our 30th anniversary. I’m sad to hear that it’s closed.
Wow this takes me way back. As a kid we would eat there quite often. We also really liked the Rickshaw and House of Lee. Sad to hear most of these places are closed.
Chinee Villa was originally owned by the Gan family. The food during their ownership was superb. It was operated from at least some time during the 70s, maybe longer. In the early 90s (foggy on time frames) the family sold it and after a few meals there we found a new place. The quality had deteriorated with the new ownership. I don’t know who bought it from the Gans. Given the proximity to Grand Valley on Lauzon and the Pomegranate on Wyandotte there probably would have been no way to compete much longer with lesser quality food. It was an East End treasure in its heyday.
Was excellent food! Anyone who claims not to have been impressed is just speaking on behalf of an inferior competitor.