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Jimmy's Oriental Gardens was a restaurant that operated in Santa Barbara, CA.
In March 2007, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation purchased Jimmy's Oriental Gardens from the Chung family.[1] Eventually, the building earned historic status when it was purchased by the state of California as part of the El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park.
Early history
editJimmy's Oriental Gardens opened in 1947 by James "Jimmy" Lee Chung. It closed in 2006 when Jimmy's son and operator at the time, Tommy, decided to retire.
Early family history
editJames "Jimmy" Yee Chung was born in China on July 21, 1910. The son of Wah Hing Chung, the Chung family owned Wah Hing Chung Laundry in Santa Barbara. It closed in the 1940s. Jimmy was 12 years old when he arrived in Santa Barbara with his family. Despite the family laundry business, Jimmy opened his first restaurant, the Friendly Cafe, in 1936.[2]
History of Chinatown in Santa Barbara
editChinese workers first arrived in Central California between 1868 and 1869 to help build what is now known as Stagecoach Road on Highway 154. They worked as farm laborers, in resort hotels as servants, housekeepers, and cooks, and laundrymen.[3]
Chinese stores, restaurants, and laundries began opening on the 00 block of East Canon Perdido Street between State Street and Anacapa Street, which eventually became known as Old Chinatown. Today, a glazed tile plague outside Jimmy's Oriental Gardens Restaurant serves as a reminder of the neighborhood's Chinese history.[3]
Jimmy opened the Oriental Gardens in 1940 after closing Friendly Cafe. The restaurant moved several times before settling into its final location at 126 East Canon Perdido.
The original building housed a bakery, but was demolished to make room for a new, one-story brick facade that included tiles and a gabled roof, along with Chinese decor. It was designed by architect Roy W. Cheeseman; Whittaker & Snook served as the contractor.[3]
Behind the restaurant, a two-story house was built where Jimmy and his wife Nuey raised their five children: Bill, Tommy, Kong, John, and Barbara.
In media
editIn 2014, music and film production company Dissonant Media,[4] founded by brothers Casey and Kevin McGarry, filmed the short documentary "Grasshopper for Grandpa" about the history of Jimmy's Oriental Gardens. The title of the documentary was inspired by a story written by Matt Kettmann, and published in the Santa Barbara Independent.[5] In December 2014, "Grasshopper for Grandpa" was submitted to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
References
edit- ^ "Jimmy's Oriental Gardens". Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.
- ^ Graffy, Neal. "The History of a Family Legacy". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
- ^ a b c Douglas Chong, Raymond. "A Lost Chinatown at Santa Barbara". Gum Saan Journal. Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "DISSONANT MEDIA". DISSONANT MEDIA.
- ^ Stewart, Ethan. "Grasshopper for Grandpa". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
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