Wing On Wo & Co — Local services in New York

In a city and world in which everything seems to be turning into a cookie-cutter shopping mall, Wing On Wo is a true delight. The store has received major press, including NPR, The Guardian, The New York Times, etc. I'm truly surprised it doesn't have hundreds of Google reviews. The store, which dates back to the 1890's, has been in this location since 1920, when Walter Eng purchased the building. After Walter's death in 1964, his daughter Nancy Seid and her husband Shuck managed this enchanting shop.

When Nancy' and Shuck's granddaughter Mei Lum learned her grandparents wanted to retire and sell the shop, Mei stepped in. I talked to Mei's dad Gary about how the Chinatown of his youth has drastically changed. He was so nice and easy to talk to - I heard him giving other people tips about the best food in Chinatown. He joked about his daughter being his boss, while indicating the utmost respect for everything she has done for the shop and her efforts to preserve tradition in Chinatown!

The shop pays respect to its long tradition, with beautiful antique porcelain and some new pieces, although the new ones are much classier than the mass-produced junk you find in so many other shops here.

Inspired by her family’s long history of business, Mei Lum founded The WOW Project. The group is a springboard for discussing concerns about the rapid changes taking place in Chinatown (e.g. all the cheap, knockoff designer bags sold by aggressive hawkers on Canal and just about every street...

What a beautiful shop, full of rich history and guided by people who move through the world with deep passion and love for their community. Even before stepping inside Wing On Wo & Co, it was a delight to see the mural across Mosco Street, “In the Future Our Asian Community is Safe” created by multiple generations of community members and project spearheaded by the W.O.W. Project. The building itself is crowned with custom terrazzo parapet tiles at the top, blended with broken pieces of porcelain as a tribute to its recent centennial celebrations.

The family behind Wing On Wo & Co—Gary, Lorraine, Mei, and their staff—are such kind and welcoming people that being there truly feels like being at home. I picked up a necklace, charming chopstick rests, and beautiful postcards—this shop is the perfect place to find thoughtful souvenirs! My favourite piece from here however, is the purple fish vase that I love to keep my dried roses in :)

Beautiful, beautiful—a must-go and must-return spot in...

I stopped by for the first time today to take part in their Seconds Sale. I ended up picking up two rice spoons, two bowls, and a teapot. It's hard not to get caught up in how beautiful their collection is. I spent well over an hour in there, and the employees were incredibly friendly. I could definitely see myself coming back here and recommending it to my friends and family.

The pictures don't do this place justice! I just happened to snap a few to send...