Detroit’s Chinatown Revival

After decades of dormancy, Detroit’s historic Chinatown is stirring with renewed purpose. The neighborhood near Cass and Peterboro—once home to thriving Chinese American businesses and cultural hubs—is undergoing a revival driven by a coalition of residents, business owners, and community leaders committed to honoring its legacy while envisioning a more inclusive, Pan-Asian future.

Spearheading this effort is the Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee, whose members are leading initiatives ranging from streetscape improvements and community-centered development to cultural celebrations like the inaugural Chinatown Block Party on July 26.

“We’re trying to build something meaningful—not just for nostalgia, but for the next generation,” said Lisa Yee-Litzenberg, a member of the Vision Committee whose family once owned the Forbidden City restaurant in the heart of Detroit’s Chinatown. Her father served as mayor of the district when it was a formal Chinatown entity. “I grew up working in our family’s restaurants. For me, this isn’t just about history—it’s about home.”

POSTCARD FROM FORBIDDEN CITY RESTAURANT

At the heart of this revitalization is the restoration of the former Chung’s Restaurant building at 3175 Cass, a structure that stood as a cultural and culinary anchor for decades.

“It was the most well-known business in Detroit’s Chinatown because it lasted the longest—until 2000,” Yee-Litzenberg said. “There’s a lot of nostalgia for it. It’s important what goes in there now.”

That future is already unfolding. American Community Developers, led by Mike Essian, now owns the building and is collaborating with the Vision Committee to attract Pan-Asian businesses to the site. “There are three vacant parcels—two for restaurants and a third for a café or food business,” Yee-Litzenberg said. “Mike shares our vision and is actively looking for people to rent.”

Developer and co-owner of Detroit Shipping Company, Jonathan Hartzell is also heavily involved, looking to partner with others to expand development.

Community excitement is also growing around the streetscape improvements slated for Peterboro between Cass and Second. A $1 million grant—secured through the efforts of Senator Stephanie Chang—will help transform the block into a safe, vibrant cultural corridor.

“The idea of revitalizing Peterboro has been in the works for some time,” said Roland Hwang, a Vision Committee member and longtime advocate with the Association of Chinese Americans and American Citizens for Justice. “Without improvements to the street, businesses won’t want to locate there. This is the foundation for a rebirth.”

The public planning process, led by Midtown Detroit Inc. in partnership with the Vision Committee and SmithGroup, has been intentionally inclusive. “There’s been great community input,” said Yee-Litzenberg. “At the July 26 Block Party, Midtown will be there with renderings of the vision so people can see and share their thoughts.”

Julie Sailus, who curates community initiatives for Detroit Shipping Company and is also a member of the Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee, has been instrumental in rallying local support and building momentum. “As someone who’s lived and worked in that neighborhood for years, I always saw Chung’s as this ghost of the past,” she said. “Now we have a chance to bring it back—not as a replica of the old, but as something modern and culturally aware.”

That balance—between preserving history and creating space for a broader Pan-Asian identity—is central to the district’s future.

“We obviously want to retain the memory of Detroit’s original Chinatown,” said Hwang, “but we’re looking forward, too. We want to build something inclusive—a more international village that brings together entrepreneurs from across the Asian diaspora.”

From Vietnamese restaurants to Japanese cafes to Korean markets, the goal is to cultivate a diverse mix of small businesses that reflects the richness of Asian culture today. “It’s a way of merging knowledge of the past with a vision for the future,” Hwang said.

That vision also includes new cultural landmarks, like the recently unveiled Vincent Chin commemorative street sign at Cass and Peterboro. Chin, a 27-year-old Chinese American who was brutally murdered in 1982 in a racially motivated attack, has become a national symbol of Asian American civil rights.

“Vincent was a typical kid—he worked as a waiter at a Chinese restaurant and spent time in Chinatown,” said Hwang. “His story reminds us why this work matters. The street sign is a visible anchor of that history.”

All of these efforts are converging in real time with the first-ever Detroit Chinatown Block Party—a vibrant, volunteer-led celebration featuring food vendors, music, lion dances, and storytelling.

“We’re expecting over 1,000 people,” Yee-Litzenberg said. “There will be a historical exhibit curated with the Detroit Historical Museum, live entertainment, and community voting on what the future of Chinatown should look like.”

The momentum is palpable, with Detroit Shipping Company serving as a hub for the event and the surrounding neighborhood. “It really feels like this neighborhood is waking back up,” said Sailus. “We’re seeing small vendors come together, and our goal is to keep building micro-retail and opportunities in the area—with more Asian-owned businesses joining in.”

Looking ahead, the Vision Committee sees an opportunity for economic development that blends community needs with cultural programming. “We’d love to see a community center built—maybe even in honor of the Chinese Merchant Association that was lost,” Yee-Litzenberg said. “A place where we can host Asian American exhibits, cultural events, and support services.”

There’s also interest in anchoring the area with a Pan-Asian market. “That would be a game-changer,” Sailus said. “It could draw people in while serving real community needs.”

The energy is real—and it’s grounded in years of quiet organizing, relationship-building, and shared commitment.

“I’ve been working closely with the owner of Peterboro for years, and all of the businesses on the block are excited,” said Sailus. It’s being done the right way.”

Hwang believes Detroit has a chance to do something truly unique. “Cities don’t always get this right,” he said. “But this is a chance to create a model of what a modern, inclusive cultural district can look like—anchored in history, shaped by community, and open to all.”

Learn more and get involved:

• Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee
• Detroit Chinatown Block Party (July 26)
• GoFundMe for Block Party – Donate Here

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