The City Market & Chinese Suburbia

Historical records show that by the 1930s, almost eighty percent of the produce consumed in Los Angeles was grown and distributed by Chinese residents. It is no surprise that one of the first labor disputes in the city occurred when officials raised food taxes, forcing the Chinese community to organize and threaten to boycott the distributors of fruits and vegetables. By that time, much of the produce was handled in the main City Market, established in 1903 and virtually run by Chinese entrepreneurs. The booming business of City Market (off San Pedro Street) as well as the pending destruction of Old Chinatown caused relocation for many Chinese to East Adams - a mixed race neighborhood in town - creating what many considered to be the first Chinese suburb in Los Angeles.

Grocery store and restaurant, City Market.

T. Leung Herb Co., at 711 S. Main St. Sign reads, "under the same manager in this city since 1896 pure natural herb remedies good for all ailments.

Site of the old City Market, Los Angeles.

City Market on San Pedro Street, just south of Sixth Street, Los Angeles, 1918.

Wagons being loaded at the Old City Market, Los Angeles, 1910.

Lorenzo Flores loads pumpkins for wholesale buyer at Los Angeles' city market, 1951.

Crates filled with produce at Los Angeles City Market, 1948.

Mike Katich, displaying cantalope to buyer Red Kabeary at the Los Angeles produce market, 1956.

Workers load vegetables at the Los Angeles produce market,1969.

Dinner inside an herb shop, 1947.

Signage at site of the old City Market, Los Angeles.

Signage at old City Market, Los Angeles.