FONG WAN - Library

In 1927, Fong Wan took over the Old Republic Cafe, located at 425
Tenth Street, Oakland. He reorganized it into the New Shanghai Cafe,
a beautiful and sanitary place to eat. Under his able direction, the
New Shanghai has become one of the best paying cafes in the Bay
Cities.
THE HOME OF THE FONG WAN COMPANY
In order to properly house his ever-increasing business, Fong Wan
planned and designed a building that should be both adequate and emi-
nently suited to his needs. About eight months were required for the
erection of the structure, and on June 27, 1924, Fong Wan took possession
of the handsome, reinforced concrete building at 576-578 Tenth
Street, Oakland, California, in which Oriental and Occidental design
are so artistically combined as to constitute a monument to his genius.
The building is beautifully furnished. The roof is designed as a
playground for his children, the entire upper floor with its spacious
Oriental veranda, is the family residence, the first floor is devoted
exclusively to the herb business, while the large, airy basement pro-
vides ample room for the receipt of herb shipments. On the first floor
there is a cheerful reception room with a soft Oriental rug, heavy
teakwood furniture, works of art, and an attractive showcase in which
various kinds of herbs are exhibited. Among the other rooms on this
floor are the quiet office where any person may consult the herbalist
regarding his or her health without charge or obligation; the well-
ordered herb room, with its hundreds of varieties of herbs each in its
special compartment; the sanitary kitchen with its dozen gas plates
and its shining pots in which nothing but herbs are ever cooked; and
the alluring tea room in which the herb tea is served on unique little
Chinese tables.
This mansion has no duplicate anywhere in the United States. One
of the attendants shows visitors around. Thousands of Americans have
already availed themselves of the opportunity of going through the
building and enjoying not only the beauty of its furnishings, but of
its design and interior finish as well. These admiring visitors have
named it "The Palace." In 1925, when an Anti-Herb Bill was intro-
duced into the State Assembly, Fong Wan went to Sacramento and
through the arguments and facts that he presented, was instrumental
in having the bill withdrawn. At that time, the people of California,
through the medium of the press, acclaimed him "King of the Herbal-
175