Tuey Far Low

Soon Doon Quon either immigrated to America before the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 or acquired a merchant certificate exemption by finding a sponsoring merchant in Los Angeles. Upon arrival in Los Angeles in the late 1800s Soon Doon Quon found jobs in restaurants in Old Los Angeles Chinatown. Like other Chinese immigrants, he found many white Americans were hostile toward the Chinese and decided to live, work, shop, and socialize in Old Los Angeles Chinatown where he felt safe with fellow immigrants from China. He regularly sent money back to his wife and daughters in China. He worked hard, lived frugally, and was able to save enough money by the end of the 1800s to open his own restaurant in Old Los Angeles Chinatown on Alameda St. and Marchessault St. He called his restaurant “Tuey Far Low”. Since Soon Doon Quon now owned and operated a restaurant in Old Los Angeles Chinatown, he was able to get a merchant’s certificate from the Imperial Chinese Majesty’s Superintendent of Customs allowing him to visit China and reenter America.