New Cathay
Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Cathay was a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States.
- American
- American Chinese
- Chinese
| New Cathay | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of New Cathay | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Food type |
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| Location | Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 45.5050°N 122.5782°W |
Description
The restaurant New Cathay operated at the intersection of 82nd Avenue and Division Street in southeast Portland.[1] It served Chinese, American,[2] and American Chinese cuisine.
History
On January 1, 1939, The Oregonian reported on the completion of the building.[3] New Cathay was granted a restaurant license in mid 1939.[4]
The restaurant operated until 1987. Bob K. Louie was an owner.[1][5] Eddie Chong Louie,[6][7] Frank Kee Chinn,[8] John K. Chinn,[9][10] and Yin K. Leong have also been credited as owners.[11]
A burglar stole $150 from the restaurant in 1949.[12] In 1949, a fire destroyed a shed adjoining the restaurant.[13]
The restaurant served as a gathering place for community groups such as the Montavilla Kiwanis club and Oregon Poultry and Pet Stock Association in 1939,[14][15] American Legion and Pepco Unit No. 104 in 1950,[16] Searchlight and Timberline Toastmistress clubs in 1955,[17] Disabled American Veterans in 1959,[18] the Oregon Association of Homes for the Aged in 1964,[19] and the Thread, Needle and Thimble club in 1965.[20]
In March 1966, burglars stoles $1,700 from the restaurant's safe.[21] The restaurant was burglarized again in July,[22] resulting in the arrest of two men.[23] Both men pleaded guilty.[24][25][26] In 1978, two Mt. Hood Community College and TriMet officials were arrested for theft and other charges after leaving the restaurant without paying.[27]
In 1985, employees of New Cathay rejected a proposal by Local 9 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union to be the group's bargaining representative.[28] In 1986, the restaurant was among businesses who donated food to feed 50 children at an annual Christmas celebration hosted by the 82nd Avenue Business Association.[29]
Reception
New Cathay was described as an "anchor" of the Chinatown on 82nd Avenue by Heather Arndt Anderson in the book Portland: A Food Biography (2014).[30] The business was among six American Chinese restaurants on 82nd Avenue featured in the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon's digital archive Behind the Wok in 2025.[31]
