Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Graphics: Lum Fong’s New York Restaurants








signed with initials PF;
possibly cartoonist Paul Fung





Wine card stapled to menu


New York Public Library, What’s on the Menu?
Museum of the City of New York, Lum Fong N.Y. World’s Fair 1939 Button


ABOUT LUM FONG

Lum Fong was born Yung Fong Lum in 1885 in Canton, China. The exact date is unclear. His World War I draft card had December 1, 1885; World War II draft card said January 26, 1885; his wife’s naturalization petition recorded March 12, 1885. 

On June 3, 1916, Lum arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He sailed on the steamship Empress of Russia from Hong Kong. The passenger list said Lum was a merchant, married and a Confucian. He is on line 14.


At Malone, New York, Lum crossed into the United States on July 24, 1916. Newspapers said Lum arrived in 1915. The passenger list said Lum was a merchant and married. He had a friend at 36 Pell Street that was located in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Lum is on line 19.


Lum signed his World War I draft card on September 12, 1918. His address was 36 Pell Street. He was a cashier at “Uie Ye Kwen”. Lum was described as slender build, medium height, with black eyes and hair. Lee Hong was named as a friend. 


Lee Hong was profiled in Warner M. Van Norden’s Who’s Who of the Chinese in New York (1918). Lum worked at the restaurant We Ye Keau, 36 Pell Street. Also located there was the Hock San Society. 

Lum may have been found in the 1920 United States Census. A search of his name produced no results, so I suspect the enumerator misinterpreted Lum’s name. A search of the address, 36 Pell Street, found “Lee Hung”, probably Lee Hong, on line 40. Line 43 listed “Yean Fue Lung”. The age is off by three years but he was married, immigrated in 1916 and worked at a restaurant. He is a good match for Lum. 


In the 1925 New York state census, Lum was not found at 36 Pell Street. 

Newspaper reports said Lum started his Canal Street restaurant in 1925. The New York Times, November 28, 1925, published various business transactions including this item: Capital Increases, Lum-Fong, Manhattan, $10,000 to $15,000.


The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) produced a profile of Lum for its subscribers including the Niagara Falls Gazette (New York). The article is below. 


Regarding the egg roll, the Brooklyn Eagle, January 9, 1940, said
The first person to eat Lum Fung’s [sic] egg roll was Lee Tracy after making his debut as Hildy Johnson in “The Front Page”. 
The Broadway play opened August 14, 1928. The origin of the egg roll is examined at The American Chinese Food Show, Who Really Invented Chinese Egg Rolls?

On December 13, 1928, Lum and Ti Moi Chu obtained marriage license number 31209 in Manhattan. They married ten days later (below). Their address was 174 Canal Street. 


The 1930 United States Census counted Lum, his wife and son, Danward, in Manhattan at 174 Canal Street. The census erroneously said Danward was four years old; he was born on April 7, 1929. Lum was in the restaurant business (see lines 31 to 33). 



Lum advertised in The Handbook of Chinese Students in U.S.A. Below are samples from 1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933. 



Lum’s wife was naturalized on May 8, 1933. She was born in Belmar, New Jersey but lost her citizenship when she married Lum, an alien. The card said Fong was her surname. 



Lum and his family prepared to visit China in 1933. On May 17, 1933 they were interviewed by the Immigration Service. Lum’s Chinese Exclusion Act case files, at the National Archives branches in Seattle, Washington and New York City, are not available. The following transcript is from his wife and sons’ files in Seattle. Pages one through three were the interview of Lum’s wife, Chun Moi Lum Fong. 


On pages four through six, Lum Fong was questioned about his parents; first wife and children; and second wife and children.


On pages six through eight, Lum Fong answered questions about his restaurant businesses and business relationships.


The following Form 430 documents said the Lums, aboard the steamship President Jefferson, departed from Seattle on June 24, 1933.


On September 20, 1933, Lum was aboard the steamship President Cleveland when it departed Hong Kong. He arrived in Seattle, Washington on October 17. His family remained in China.


Lum’s trip was noted by Julia Blanshard who produced a column about New York for the NEA. The Brownsville Herald (Texas), November 21, 1933, published her New York Letter column that said
Lum Fong, popular Chinese restauranteur who has just returned from five months in China, where he went to arrange a dowery for his daughter and to attend her intricate marriage services, was welcomed back this week by his partner, Moe Levy, at a huge Chinese dinner given for stage folks and writers. ...
Lum’s daughter, Wei Ming, was mentioned in his obituary. It’s unknown if she immigrated to the United States. Almost eight years later, Alice Hughes, in the Buffalo Courier-Express, June 26, 1941, wrote in her column
... Lum Fong, the roly-poly Cantonese who is our town’s greatest Chinese food-purveyor, and his pretty young wife in her native dress. This Mrs. Lum is No. 2 wife, No. 1 having been safely settled in Canton years ago. Two delightful small boys are the issue of this marriage. A couple of years ago Lum went back home to attend the wedding festivities of a daughter by No. 1. He came back a worn man. When I asked what had broken him, he replied “At high-class Chinese wedding everybody eat and drink seven days and nights and never stop. It made me tired.” And Americans think they’re hellers when they stay out till sunrise Jan. 1! It’s this sort of thing that makes Occidentals realize what tough stuff the Chinese are.
On August 3, 1935, Lum’s wife and sons departed Hong Kong. They arrived in Seattle on August 20. 


The New York Times, September 10, 1935, published a photograph with this caption.
Mrs. Lum Fong as she brought her 6-year-old son Danward to Miss Flora Rosenberg’s class at P.S. 23, at Mulberry and Bayard Streets, yesterday morning.
Lum’s partner, Moe Levy, was mentioned in a couple of columns; below from the Waterbury Democrat (Connecticut), November 27, 1937. 
It’s Kosher
It would not be fair to mention Lum Fong’s place without noting that its proprietor, an amiable Chinaman with the hospitable virtues of a boniface, runs it in partnership with Moe Levy, the Semitic clothier. They have been partners for year. And that it was at the instigation of the you-know-which-end-of-the-firm that the menu included, besides Bird’s Nest soups, bamboo shoots and Pekin Duck, an incongruous item called gefuellte fish.
The Rochester Times-Union (New York), September 14, 1938, published Charles B. Driscoll’s column, New York Day by Day.
A Chinese restaurant that gets most of its customers from uptown is Lum Fong’s, at Canal Street, near Baxter. You walk up a flight to do your real eating, of course. One doesn’t feel right, eating Chinese food on the ground floor.

Lum is one of the most prominent Chinese in America. He has been active in collecting and forwarding funds for relief of Chinese refugees. He is known in the right circles in Washington.

Lum’s uptown restaurant burned in a horrible conflagration, killing several, a couple of years ago. He has never tried to open another place uptown.

Moe Levy, a clothing merchant, and not a bit Chinese, has long been interested in Lum Fong’s ventures.
Every Friday, the New York Sun published a dining guide. Below is the November 17, 1933 guide with Lum Fong listed. 


The following Friday, the Sun’s dining guide included the restaurant Lums which was next door to Bloomingdale’s on Lexington Avenue at 59th Street.

November 24, 1933

Lum advertised his Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners in the Sun on December 23 and 26, 1933.


The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 14, 1934, reported the first anniversary of Lums. 

A fire destroyed Lums on February 12, 1936; see photograph below. 


The Nassau Daily Review (Freeport, New York), June 17, 1935, published the advertisement announcing the grand opening of Lum Fong Casino in Long Beach, New York. 


Nassau Daily Review, July 24, 1936

Nassau Daily Review, August 14, 1936

The Long Island Daily Press (Jamaica, New York), November 16, 1942, said Lum Fong Casino closed in June. 

Detail

The New York Sun published a series of dining suggestions. Number eighteen appeared November 12, 1938.


The New York Post, April 29, 1939, published a World’s Fair supplement filled with advertisements. 


Official Chinatown Guide Book for Visitors & New Yorkers (1939)

The 1940 census said Lum, his wife and two sons were at the same address (see lines 73 to 76). Lum was a restaurant manager. In the postcard book, Manhattan’s Chinatown (2008), Daniel Ostrow wrote captions for two postcards featuring the Lum Fong Restaurant on pages 25 and 26. Ostrow said Lum met Moe Levy’s son, Isadore (1889–1952), at the Pell Street restaurant. Lum named his second son, Dorey, which was Isadore’s nickname. 


The New York Times, January 9, 1940, reported a lease for “Lum Fong, Chinese restaurant, store and basement in 148-50 W 42d [sic] St”. Three days later, the street number was corrected, “Lum Fong, Chinese restaurant, store at 148 W 52d St”. 

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle noted the anticipated opening of Lum’s restaurant in Manhattan’s Theater District. 

Lum Fong will open a 52d St. branch the first week in March on the site of the defunct Yacht Club.
Lum Fong is spending, he says, $35,000 to redecorate the old 52d St. Yacht Club and will open it in March as a branch of his Canal St. restaurant.
Lum Fong’s new 52d St. branch, which will be located on the site of the defunct Yacht Club, will offer an ultra-modern interior, featuring a soundproof glass-inclosed bar, while the exterior will be reminiscent of the Orient.
Lum Fong, the famed Canal St. restauranteur, announces that his new 52d St. branch will be ready for an end-of-the-month premiere.
The New York Sun, February 8, 1940, wrote about the restaurant’s upcoming opening. 


Alice Hughes wrote about the opening of Lum’s uptown restaurant in the Buffalo Courier-Express, April 11, 1940.


The New York Sun, May 27, 1940, said 
Beginning today, lessons in chopsticks will be offered as a part of the luncheon program at Lum Fong’s West Fifty-second street restaurant every Wednesday and Thursday. According to Lum, Chinese food is tastier when eaten with chopsticks. We don’t know why, but Lum says it is, and he ought to know.
The New York Sun, September 28, 1940, described the Chinese Mandarin Dinner (with fortune cookies) at Lum’s restaurants. 


Lum and his restaurant were mentioned twice in House Beautiful. The May 1941 issue said 
About Chinese food there can no doubt, you either adore it or not. But be sure you’ve had the real McCoy before making up your mind. In New York, Lum Fong is the place to go. We think it superb cuisine. Or try one of Lum Fong’s recipes (he has been collecting them tirelessly for many years) at home.
Photographs of Lum and restaurant interior, plus recipes, appeared November 1941. 

Lum signed his World War II draft card on April 27, 1942. His description was five feet six inches, 185 pounds, with brown eyes and brown and gray hair. 


Cartoonists frequented Lum’s restaurant. The Brooklyn Eagle, November 10, 1939, said
Lum Fong will shortly dedicate a “Cartoonist’s Corner” at his Canal St. restaurant. The Corner will be decorated with original sketches by such artists as Arthur William Brown, Billy De Beck, Rube Goldberg, Ving Fuller, Paul Fung, Chick Young, Ham Fisher and George McManus.
The Times-Union (Albany, New York), October 29, 1939, said Lum saved the tablecloths decorated by his cartoonist customers. 


Lum appeared in Bud Fisher’s comic strip Mutt & Jeff on March 28, 1943. In 1934 Fisher dined at Lums on Lexington Avenue. The strip below was drawn by ghost artist Al Smith who, at some point, ate at Lum’s restaurant.


Cartoonist Ham Fisher mentioned Lum in the comic strip Joe Palooka on July 9, 1943. Fisher, Billy DeBeck and Rube Goldberg ate at Lum’s restaurant in 1939. 


A photograph of Lum with a handful of cartoonists appeared in Samuel Fuller’s book, A Third Face: My Tale of Writing, Fighting, and Filmmaking (2004). 

The Buffalo Courier-Express, April 1, 1943, mentioned Li Ling Ai as a birthday guest at Lum’s downtown restaurant. 


The New York Times, February 6, 1946, recommended before-theatre dining restaurants.
… One of the best Chinese restaurants in town is Lum Fong’s, 150 West Fifty-second Street, an uptown branch of the original establishment on Canal Street, which recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary. It features authentic Cantonese dishes, serving the sort of food to be found in the homes and better eating places of China. The room is a pleasant place to enjoy wor shew opp (braised duck), one of the specialties of the house, or chow-ha-look (barbecued shrimps Canton style). If you’ve been to China (as a good percentage of the clientele) and have a yen for some special dish you’ve savored there, the restaurant will prepare it for you. It’s open every day for lunch and dinner, and for the latter meal reservations are in order. Luncheon dishes range upward from 50 cents, dinner from $1.10. …
Lum was naturalized on April 8, 1946. The card said Fong was his surname. 


Alice Hughes’ column, A Woman’s New York, appeared in the Corning Leader (New York), April 17, 1946. She wrote about the upcoming party for Lum’s daughter, Audrey.
Here’s One Invitation Which Won’t Hit the Wastebasket

It reads like this—“You are cordially invited to meet a very young lady, Audrey Lum, aged four weeks, at a party given in her honor by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lum Fong, at the Ding Ho, 135 West 49th Street, New York, on April 18 at six p.m.” Well, that is something, for more than one reason. Mr. Lum, in addition to being the leading Chinese restaurateur in our town, is an old and valued friend of mine. His eating place on Canal Street, the brink of Chinatown, made him famous, and a few years ago he opened an uptown branch on W. 52nd St., where I give parties if I have invited guests I cherish, for Mr. Lum orders the food, which is superb.

This plump, smiling host is a Cantonese, where the best Sino-American cookery comes from, and has a lovely young wife, not to mention two fine sons edging toward the teens. Now young Audrey has arrived, and tomorrow we shall bid her hello and ding ho! It is interesting that Mr. Lum is giving this party at the restaurant of a competitor. The Ding Ho is a comparative newcomer, but the grub is really wonderful. You can see that the proud pop is, in the vulgate of Broadway, “scattering his play.” He could easily introduce his daughter at his own spot, but he prefers to shove a bit of trade to a worthy opposition place.

The Lum sons and their pretty mother have been our guests. You can easily guess what a sweet morsel little Audrey is! I wish you could come with us to the Ding Ho at six tomorrow and meet her socially. Mr. Lum’s smile is famous. It will be at its best at the party for his tiny daughter.
A promotional pamphlet, “Welcome to Lum Fong”, was produced in 1948.


At some point, Lum moved to the suburbs. The 1950 census said the Lums resided in Malverne, Nassau County, New York, at 16 King Street (see lines 15 to 19). 



Lum passed away on June 26, 1952, in New York, New York. Obituaries appeared in several newspapers including The New York Times and Brooklyn Eagle (below) on June 28. 
Lum Fong, Noted Restauranteur, 66
Lum Fong, whose restaurant at 220 Canal St., Manhattan, was one of New York’s most famous Chinese eating places, died Thursday at St. Clare’s Hospital, Manhattan. He was credited with having introduced to Americans such genuinely Chinese dishes as wonton soup, egg roll and shrimp roll. He resided in Malverne.

Mr. Lum was born in Canton 66 years ago, and entered the restaurant business in his native land. He came to America in 1915 [sic] and served as a restaurant manager for 10 years before opening the Canal St. establishment. In 1940 he opened a second Lum Fong’s at 150 W. 52d St. Manhattan.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Mae Lum; two sons, Danward and Dorey, and two daughters, Wei Ming and Audrey Lum. The body will be at the Chinese Cheung Sang Funeral Parlor, 22 Mulberry St., Manhattan, on Monday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at True Light Lutheran Church, 195 Worth St., Manhattan. 
Alice Hughes wrote about the Lum’s oldest son, Danward, inheriting the business.
 
Buffalo Courier-Express, October 8, 1952

The New York Post, December 14, 1953, said
Mrs. Lum Fong, widow of the former owner of the Lum Fong Restaurants, has become active in its operations.
Lum’s wife, Mae, was a celebrity in the New York Post.

June 27, 1957

The birthday party for Lum’s daughter was mentioned in the Evening Leader (Corning, New York), April 4, 1958.


New York City 1959: film footage of Chinatown and Little Italy from 5:42 to 13:04; Lum Fong exterior seen at 7:59.

Mae passed away on June 17, 1992; Danward on April 18, 1997; and Dorey on January 20, 2017. 


SIDEBAR: Lum Fong’s Employees
The following employees were found either through their World War II draft cards, which required the name and address of their employer, or in newspaper articles. 

Sixto Araste
Race: Filipino
Age: 40
Birth Date: 5 Nov 1902
Birth Place: Vigan, Philippines
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 4
Weight: 125
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Aesente Remolete

Harold Ming Au
Race: Oriental (Asian)
Age: 44
Birth Date: 20 Jul 1898
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 5
Weight: 118
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Edward Seto

Bill Chan
New York Sun, March 30, 1945, Cafe Life in New York
Bill Chan, the Chinese bartender at Lum Fong’s 52d Street restaurant, will be screen tested. 
Kenneth Ng Chan
Race: Oriental
Age: 21
Birth Date: 5 Mar 1919
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 8
Weight: 144
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Lum Fong

Chin Hwong Chen
Race: Oriental
Age: 33
Birth Date: 16 Mar 1907
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 115
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Michael Yee

Kai Cheung
Address: 13 Eldridge Street, New York, New York
Race: Oriental
Age: 42
Birth Date: 13 Oct 1899
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 2.5
Weight: 133
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Jay Toy

Jew Fook Chow
Race: Oriental
Age: 18
Birth Date: 23 Feb 1926
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 9 Mar 1944
Registration Place: New York City, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 4
Weight: 126
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black

William Chu
Race: Oriental
Age: 21
Birth Date: 22 Jul 1919
Birth Place: Albany, New York
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 138
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Mrs. Lum Fong

Lee Chuen
Race: Oriental
Age: 27
Birth Date: 4 Sep 1914
Birth Place: China
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Inc, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 4
Weight: 125
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Jay Gum

Lew Fung Chun
Race: Oriental
Age: 42
Birth Date: 10 Mar 1899
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 5
Weight: 116
Complexion: Dark
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Tuck High

Fa Yew Dea
Race: Oriental
Age: 33
Birth Date: 11 Nov 1907
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 6
Weight: 125
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Sinoyow Dea

Ng Fat
Race: Oriental
Age: 40
Birth Date: 15 May 1902
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 3
Weight: 135
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Contact Person: Ng Chung

Wong Foo
Race: Oriental
Age: 40
Birth Date: 9 Apr 1901
Birth Place: New York, New York
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Inc, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 4
Weight: 128
Complexion: Ruddy
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Lum Fong

Ching Hoy Ho
Address: 220 Canal Street, New York, New York
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Oct 1886
Birth Place: Nam Hoy, Canton, China
Residence Place: New York City, New York
Military Draft Date: April 27, 1942
Contact Person: Lum Fong

A photograph of Ho Ching Hoy, head chef of Lum Fong restaurants, appeared in PM Daily, February 5, 1943. 


Lee Hoy
Race: Oriental
Age: 30
Birth Date: 1 Mar 1910
Birth Place: Hong Kong, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 8
Weight: 145
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: James Lee

James Jay
Race: Oriental
Age: 21
Birth Date: 23 Mar 1919
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 9
Weight: 137
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Jay Hung

John Wo Kee
Race: Oriental
Age: 32
Birth Date: 27 Nov 1907
Birth Place: San Jose, California
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Inc, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 6
Weight: 165
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Wong Shee Kee
Social Security Death Index: November 1984

Willson Kong
Race: Oriental
Age: 35
Birth Date: 11 Nov 1905
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 4
Weight: 137
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Contact Person: Ho Chong Wing

Huey Shue Koon
Race: Oriental
Age: 39
Birth Date: 17 Apr 1902
Birth Place: Hoyshan, China
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 150
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Lum Fong

Wah Chung Lau
Race: Oriental
Age: 26
Birth Date: 19 Sep 1914
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 133
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Lau Kow
New York, New York Death Certificate: December 12, 1944

Ling Law
Race: Oriental
Age: 35
Birth Date: 19 Sep 19075
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 10
Weight: 138
Complexion: Dark
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Louis Leung

Grace Lee
New York Post, February 17, 1952
Grace Lee, pretty Chinese hostess at Lum Fong’s, will be screen-tested by Columbia. 
New York Post, May 28, 1952
Grace Lee, hostess at Lum Fong’s, will be featured in a Judson Hughes short, “American Beauties”.

James Chew-Young Lee
Race: Oriental
Age: 31
Birth Date: 28 Nov 1908
Birth Place: New York, New York
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York
Employer: Lum’s 52nd St. Corp., 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 11
Weight: 165
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Mrs. James C.Y. Lee

New York Sun, June 21, 1946, Cafe Life in New York


Eat, Think and Be Slender, Leonid Kotkin, Hawthorne Books, 1954
The Chinese restaurant offers much variety to the person on the diet. Jimmy Lee, manager of Lum Fong, made it a point to note that many dishes prepared in the Chinese fashion are sautéed in strained chicken broth, rather than in butter. Mr. Lee also pointed out that in dishes where a flour binder is required, ...
James A. Lewis
Race: Oriental
Age: 35
Birth Date: 12 Jul 1905
Birth Place: Kentung, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 120
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Contact Person: Nadine Elizabeth Fanning

Fernando Mendoza
Race: Filipino
Age: 44
Birth Date: 30 May 1897
Birth Place: Philippine Islands
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 5
Weight: 174
Complexion: Dark
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Consuelo Cartagena

Leonard Priore
Race: White
Age: 25
Birth Date: 23 Aug 1915
Birth Place: New York City, New York
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Brooklyn, Kings, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 3
Weight: 150
Complexion: Dark
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Lillian Priore

Patrocino E. Ramirez
Race: Filipino
Age: 27
Birth Date: 7 May 1913
Birth Place: San Esteban, Philippines
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 5
Weight: 142
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: James Ramiriez

Ah Jing Seetoo
Race: Oriental
Age: 42
Birth Date: 24 Aug 1899
Birth Place: Kantung, China
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: District of Columbia
Employer: Lum Fong Inc, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 2
Weight: 130
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Henry Seetoo

Louis Lum Tang
Race: Oriental
Age: 35
Birth Date: 17 Dec 1905
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 5
Weight: 145
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Henry Ong

Shung F. Thom
Race: Oriental
Age: 39
Birth Date: 26 Oct 1903
Birth Place: China
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 2
Weight: 115
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Lum Fong
Massachusetts Death Index: March 17, 1986

Sing Tieng
Address: 174 Canal Street
Residence Place: New York City, New York
Birth Date: 18 Jul 1894
Age: 48
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 27 Apr 1942
Employer: Lum Fong Inc. 220 Canal Street, New York City, New York
Race: Oriental
Height: 5 2.5
Weight: 160
Complexion: Dark
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Contact Person: Lum Fong

Buck Nin Tom
Race: Oriental
Age: 42
Birth Date: 11 Nov 1899
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Rest, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 153
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Tom Yen

Pon Kin Tom
Race: Oriental
Age: 33
Birth Date: 6 Jun 1907
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 5
Weight: 114
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Charlie Kee

Jerry Han Toy
Race: Oriental
Age: 30
Birth Date: 8 Aug 1910
Birth Place: China, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 165
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Harry Young

Robert Seid Won
Race: Oriental
Age: 35
Birth Date: 15 May 1905
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Inc, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 152
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Jerry Toy
Find a Grave: January 8, 1953

New York Post, February 14, 1941, Today’s Toast
“Dragon Lady,” as prepared by Won at Lum Fong’s on 52d St.: Mix 1-3 pineapple and orange juice, 2-3 applejack, a dash of lemon juice and a dash of grenadine. Shake well with cracked ice and swerve in a cocktail glass.
Dow Hing Wong
Race: Oriental
Age: 34
Birth Date: 15 Aug 1906
Birth Place: Hoy Ping District, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 150
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Contact Person: Barbara Wong

Fred Yensye Wong
Race: Oriental
Age: 30
Birth Date: 16 Jan 1910
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Brooklyn, Kings, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 7
Weight: 152
Complexion: Dark
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Contact Person: Frank Yenshue Wong

Gew Sun Wong
Race: Oriental
Age: 39
Birth Date: 8 Jul 1902
Birth Place: Hoy Sun, Canton, China
Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 2
Weight: 125
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: James C Y Lee

Tippy Wong
Brooklyn Eagle, October 1, 1947, Night Life
Tippy Wong, Lum Fong’s song-writing head waiter, wrote a song about the boss, “Sum Fun, Lum”. 
Brooklyn Eagle, December 3, 1950, Night Life
Lum Fong’s song-writing headwaiter, Tippy Wong, will appear in a movie short on the art of using chopsticks. 
New York Post, February 20, 1955
Tippy Wong, popular head-waiter at Lum Fong’s, has been promoted to night manager
Danny Yong
Race: Oriental
Age: 40
Birth Date: 20 Nov 1902
Birth Place: Canton, China
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: New York City, New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Inc, 220 Canal Street, 150 West 52nd Street
Height: 5 5
Weight: 135
Complexion: Light Brown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Moo Chong

Charles Young
Race: Oriental
Age: 34
Birth Date: 30 Nov 1905
Birth Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: New York, New York
Employer: Lum Fong Restaurant, 220 Canal Street
Height: 5 4
Weight: 153
Complexion: Sallow
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Contact Person: Virginia Young Chu

Bartenders
Marcellus Observer (New York), March 5, 1948
If you want a booklet on Oriental Cocktails, Sandy, Jimmy and Reggie, Lum Fong’s (N. Y.) bartender trio, are compiling one.
Hat Check Room
no names mentioned


The success of Lum Fong produced similarly named restaurants. Found in the draft cards were Lum’s Garden, 111 West 49th Street, New York, New York; Lum’s, 2351 8th Avenue, New York, New York; Lum’s Chinese American Restaurant, 85 Avenue B, New York, New York; Lum’s Tea Garden, 766 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York; and Lun Fong’s Restaurant, 546 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, which was owned by Louis Lun Fong.


Further Reading and Viewing
Life, December 15, 1952, Lum Fong restaurant cucumber and meat slice soup recipe
Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946
The television espionage comedy, Get Smart, November 2, 1968, had a character named Lum Fong (Spencer Chan) in the episode, “A Tale of Two Tails”. 


Related Posts


(Updated March 22, 2024; next post on Wednesday: Chinese Laborers at the Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad)

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