Old Chinatown, Cleveland

History

The original Chinatown's first immigrants came from southern Guangdong province in the 1860s via the transcontinental railroad, thriving until the 1920s-1930s. By the 1960s, many of the Chinese residents had moved out of the area. Its ultimate decline and disappearance came in 2006 with the closing of its last restaurant; it was overtaken by nearby Asiatown. The area is showing signs of revival as Cleveland prepares to attract capital from mainland China to build up the area. There are currently plans to build at least 5 restaurants and to eventually turn Rockwell Avenue into a "food street".