WEBVTT

00:05.906 --> 00:06.739
>>> AN "NBC NEWS

00:06.741 --> 00:07.574
>>> AN "NBC NEWS
DAILY" ORIGINAL THIS HOUR.

00:07.608 --> 00:09.199
DAILY" ORIGINAL THIS HOUR.
THIS CHRISTMAS DAY YOU WILL

00:09.210 --> 00:10.667
THIS CHRISTMAS DAY YOU WILL 
FIND A LOT OF DARKENED

00:10.678 --> 00:10.944
FIND A LOT OF DARKENED
STOREFRONTS

00:10.945 --> 00:12.436
STOREFRONTS 
AND, SORRY, WE ARE CLOSED

00:12.447 --> 00:13.546
AND, SORRY, WE ARE CLOSED 
SIGNS, BUT NOT EVERY BUSINESS

00:13.548 --> 00:13.747
SIGNS, BUT NOT EVERY BUSINESS 
TAKES

00:13.748 --> 00:14.314
TAKES 
THE DAY OFF.

00:14.315 --> 00:15.939
THE DAY OFF.
IN FACT, CHINESE RESTAURANTS

00:15.950 --> 00:17.284
IN FACT, CHINESE RESTAURANTS
ARE FAMOUS FOR OPENING THEIR

00:17.318 --> 00:19.319
ARE FAMOUS FOR OPENING THEIR
DOORS ON THE HOLIDAY, BUT

00:19.320 --> 00:20.076
DOORS ON THE HOLIDAY, BUT 
KEEPING

00:20.087 --> 00:22.422
KEEPING 
THEM OPEN, THAT CAN BE QUITE A

00:22.423 --> 00:22.746
THEM OPEN, THAT CAN BE QUITE A
CHALLENGE.

00:22.757 --> 00:24.324
CHALLENGE.
NEWS NOW DAILY

00:24.325 --> 00:26.216
NEWS NOW DAILY
ANCHOR VICKY NGUYEN HAS THIS

00:26.227 --> 00:26.426
ANCHOR VICKY NGUYEN HAS THIS
ONE.

00:26.427 --> 00:27.627
ONE.
>> Reporter: ‘TIS THE SEASON,

00:27.628 --> 00:30.253
>> Reporter: ‘TIS THE SEASON, 
FOLKS, FOR CREST NUTS ROASTING

00:30.264 --> 00:32.031
FOLKS, FOR CREST NUTS ROASTING
AND BELLS THAT JINGLE ALL THE

00:32.033 --> 00:33.433
AND BELLS THAT JINGLE ALL THE 
WAY, BUT ONCE CHRISTMAS

00:33.434 --> 00:35.201
WAY, BUT ONCE CHRISTMAS 
DAY ARRIVES IT CAN FEEL MORE

00:35.236 --> 00:35.692
DAY ARRIVES IT CAN FEEL MORE
LIKE

00:35.703 --> 00:37.361
LIKE
A SILENT NIGHT, QUIET

00:37.372 --> 00:38.606
A SILENT NIGHT, QUIET 
STREETS, DARK STOREFRONTS,

00:38.640 --> 00:38.996
STREETS, DARK STOREFRONTS,
MOSTLY,

00:39.007 --> 00:40.030
MOSTLY, 
BUT NOT COMPLETELY.

00:40.041 --> 00:41.565
BUT NOT COMPLETELY. 
STEP INTO YOUR LOCAL CHINESE

00:41.576 --> 00:42.943
STEP INTO YOUR LOCAL CHINESE
RESTAURANT TODAY AND YOU

00:42.944 --> 00:44.344
RESTAURANT TODAY AND YOU
WILL PROBABLY FIND IT PACKED

00:44.345 --> 00:46.570
WILL PROBABLY FIND IT PACKED
DENSER THAN A TAKEOUT BAG FOR

00:46.581 --> 00:48.982
DENSER THAN A TAKEOUT BAG FOR 
DOZEN, A HOLIDAY HAVEN FOR THE

00:48.983 --> 00:50.140
DOZEN, A HOLIDAY HAVEN FOR THE
COUNTRY INCLUDING SUPREME COUR

00:50.151 --> 00:50.941
COUNTRY INCLUDING SUPREME COUR
JUSTICE ELENA

00:50.952 --> 00:51.518
JUSTICE ELENA 
KAGAN.

00:51.553 --> 00:53.654
KAGAN.
>> WHERE ARE YOU AT ON

00:53.655 --> 00:53.911
>> WHERE ARE YOU AT ON
CHRISTMAS

00:53.922 --> 00:54.044
CHRISTMAS 
DAY?

00:54.055 --> 00:56.423
DAY?
>> YOU KNOW, LIKE ALL JEWS I

00:56.457 --> 00:59.883
>> YOU KNOW, LIKE ALL JEWS I
WAS PROBABLY AT A CHINESE

00:59.894 --> 01:00.027
WAS PROBABLY AT A CHINESE

01:00.061 --> 01:00.360
                            %
RESTAURANT.

01:00.361 --> 01:00.617
RESTAURANT. 
>> GREAT

01:00.628 --> 01:00.828
>> GREAT
ANSWER.

01:00.862 --> 01:02.119
ANSWER. 
>> Reporter: BUT LATELY WHAT

01:02.130 --> 01:03.154
>> Reporter: BUT LATELY WHAT
HASN‘T BEEN GREAT IS

01:03.165 --> 01:05.365
HASN‘T BEEN GREAT IS 
THE CHALLENGES

01:05.366 --> 01:05.889
THE CHALLENGES
FOR BUSINESS OWNERS STILL

01:05.900 --> 01:07.300
FOR BUSINESS OWNERS STILL 
FEELING THE AFTERSHOCKS

01:07.302 --> 01:08.559
FEELING THE AFTERSHOCKS 
OF COVID- 19 AND PERHAPS NONE

01:08.570 --> 01:10.461
OF COVID- 19 AND PERHAPS NONE 
HIT HARDER THAN THOSE IN

01:10.472 --> 01:10.771
HIT HARDER THAN THOSE IN
AMERICA‘S

01:10.872 --> 01:11.171
                            %
CHINATOWNS.

01:11.172 --> 01:12.472
CHINATOWNS. 
>> DURING THE PANDEMIC WE

01:12.474 --> 01:14.475
>> DURING THE PANDEMIC WE 
LOST SO MANY LEGACY BUSINESSES

01:14.476 --> 01:16.444
LOST SO MANY LEGACY BUSINESSES
THAT REALLY SCARED

01:16.478 --> 01:16.677
THAT REALLY SCARED
ME.

01:16.678 --> 01:17.568
ME. 
>> Reporter: GRACE YOUNG IS AN

01:17.579 --> 01:19.503
>> Reporter: GRACE YOUNG IS AN
AUTHOR WHO HAS MADE A CAREER

01:19.514 --> 01:20.581
AUTHOR WHO HAS MADE A CAREER
OUT OF WRITING CHINESE COOKS

01:20.582 --> 01:21.806
OUT OF WRITING CHINESE COOKS
BOOKS BUT SHE‘S ALSO BECOME

01:21.817 --> 01:24.708
BOOKS BUT SHE‘S ALSO BECOME 
AN ADVOCATE FOR THE 80

01:24.719 --> 01:26.486
AN ADVOCATE FOR THE 80
PLUS CHINATOWNS ACROSS

01:26.488 --> 01:27.455
PLUS CHINATOWNS ACROSS
AMERICA INCLUDING NEW YORK‘S

01:27.489 --> 01:27.688
AMERICA INCLUDING NEW YORK‘S 
AFTER

01:27.689 --> 01:28.312
AFTER 
THE PANDEMIC HIT HARD

01:28.323 --> 01:28.589
THE PANDEMIC HIT HARD 
HERE.

01:28.590 --> 01:30.214
HERE. 
>> WE LOST A RESTAURANT THAT

01:30.225 --> 01:32.359
>> WE LOST A RESTAURANT THAT
WAS OVER 65 YEARS OLD, A

01:32.394 --> 01:34.418
WAS OVER 65 YEARS OLD, A
BAKERY THAT WAS ALMOST 50 YEAR

01:34.429 --> 01:34.595
BAKERY THAT WAS ALMOST 50 YEAR
OLD.

01:34.596 --> 01:36.387
OLD.
LITTLE MOM AND POP BUSINESSES

01:36.398 --> 01:38.022
LITTLE MOM AND POP BUSINESSES 
WHICH ARE STRUGGLING WITH

01:38.033 --> 01:39.767
WHICH ARE STRUGGLING WITH 
RISING RENTS, RISING INSURANCE

01:39.801 --> 01:40.257
RISING RENTS, RISING INSURANCE
AND THE

01:40.268 --> 01:42.703
AND THE 
COST OF THEIR GOODS AND FOOD I

01:42.804 --> 01:43.103
                            %
INCREASING.

01:43.105 --> 01:44.696
INCREASING. 
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO

01:44.707 --> 01:46.440
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO 
A STUDY BY THE NONPROFIT

01:46.441 --> 01:48.208
A STUDY BY THE NONPROFIT
WELCOME TO CHINATOWN BETWEEN

01:48.210 --> 01:48.776
WELCOME TO CHINATOWN BETWEEN
2019 AND

01:48.810 --> 01:51.635
2019 AND
2021 VISITS TO

01:51.646 --> 01:52.446
2021 VISITS TO
NEW YORK CITY‘S CHINATOWN FELL

01:52.447 --> 01:53.037
NEW YORK CITY‘S CHINATOWN FELL
BY 50%.

01:53.048 --> 01:53.180
BY 50%.

01:53.215 --> 01:54.539
                            %
>> ALL ACROSS THE UNITED

01:54.550 --> 01:56.584
>> ALL ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES THE HISTORIC CHINATOWNS

01:56.618 --> 01:57.074
STATES THE HISTORIC CHINATOWNS
ARE ALL

01:57.085 --> 01:58.743
ARE ALL 
SEEING LESS FOOT TRAFFIC

01:58.754 --> 02:00.054
SEEING LESS FOOT TRAFFIC
AND LESS TOURISM.

02:00.055 --> 02:00.154
AND LESS TOURISM.

02:00.155 --> 02:01.555
                            %
>> Reporter: ALICE OWNS

02:01.556 --> 02:02.990
>> Reporter: ALICE OWNS 
GRAND TEA AND IMPORTS IN LOWER

02:03.025 --> 02:04.249
GRAND TEA AND IMPORTS IN LOWER
MANHATTAN, A BUSINESS STARTED

02:04.260 --> 02:05.259
MANHATTAN, A BUSINESS STARTED 
BY HER MOM AND

02:05.260 --> 02:05.593
BY HER MOM AND
DAD.

02:05.627 --> 02:06.984
DAD.
>> WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO

02:06.995 --> 02:08.196
>> WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO
CARRY ON THESE TRADITIONS AND

02:08.230 --> 02:09.353
CARRY ON THESE TRADITIONS AND 
LEARN THIS FROM YOUR OWN

02:09.364 --> 02:09.554
LEARN THIS FROM YOUR OWN
PARENTS?

02:09.565 --> 02:09.764
PARENTS?

02:09.765 --> 02:12.166
                            %
>> I GREW UP LIKE EVERY SINGLE

02:12.167 --> 02:14.125
>> I GREW UP LIKE EVERY SINGLE
IMMIGRANT KID HELPING

02:14.136 --> 02:15.760
IMMIGRANT KID HELPING 
IN WHATEVER BUSINESS VENTURE

02:15.771 --> 02:16.561
IN WHATEVER BUSINESS VENTURE
MY PARENTS DID.

02:16.572 --> 02:18.530
MY PARENTS DID. 
SO I WAS ALWAYS A PART OF

02:18.541 --> 02:18.739
SO I WAS ALWAYS A PART OF 
IT.

02:18.741 --> 02:19.531
IT. 
>> Reporter: THEN CAME

02:19.542 --> 02:19.864
>> Reporter: THEN CAME
COVID.

02:19.875 --> 02:21.209
COVID.
>> WE KIND OF WENT INTO A

02:21.243 --> 02:22.967
>> WE KIND OF WENT INTO A 
CRISIS MODE IN THE MIDDLE OF A

02:22.978 --> 02:23.945
CRISIS MODE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
CRISIS, IN THE MIDDLE OF A

02:23.946 --> 02:24.212
CRISIS, IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC.

02:24.246 --> 02:27.305
PANDEMIC. 
SO I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW

02:27.316 --> 02:29.483
SO I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO HELP MY PARENTS NAVIGATE

02:29.485 --> 02:29.718
TO HELP MY PARENTS NAVIGATE 
THROUGH

02:29.752 --> 02:29.951
THROUGH 
THIS.

02:29.952 --> 02:31.376
THIS. 
>> Reporter: CURTIS GREW UP IN

02:31.387 --> 02:32.977
>> Reporter: CURTIS GREW UP IN
DETROIT, HIS MEMOIRE

02:32.988 --> 02:33.921
DETROIT, HIS MEMOIRE
"EVERYTHING I LEARNED I LEARNE

02:33.956 --> 02:34.512
"EVERYTHING I LEARNED I LEARNE
IN A

02:34.523 --> 02:36.548
IN A
CHINESE RESTAURANT" IS BASED O

02:36.559 --> 02:39.183
CHINESE RESTAURANT" IS BASED O
HIS EXPERIENCES AT HIS

02:39.194 --> 02:39.960
HIS EXPERIENCES AT HIS
PARENTS‘

02:39.962 --> 02:41.529
PARENTS‘
FAMED EATERY.

02:41.564 --> 02:43.455
FAMED EATERY. 
>> WITH A LOT OF THESE

02:43.466 --> 02:45.056
>> WITH A LOT OF THESE
CHINESE BUSINESSES THE MARGIN

02:45.067 --> 02:46.267
CHINESE BUSINESSES THE MARGIN 
BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE IS

02:46.268 --> 02:48.369
BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE IS
SOMETIMES AS FEW AS A COUPLE

02:48.370 --> 02:49.237
SOMETIMES AS FEW AS A COUPLE
DOZEN CUSTOMERS PER WEEK.

02:49.305 --> 02:49.995
                            %
>> Reporter: EVEN AFTER

02:50.006 --> 02:51.439
>> Reporter: EVEN AFTER 
THE PANDEMIC VISITATION IS

02:51.474 --> 02:51.940
THE PANDEMIC VISITATION IS
STILL

02:52.074 --> 02:52.273
                            %
DOWN.

02:52.274 --> 02:53.431
DOWN. 
>> NEW YORK CITY‘S

02:53.442 --> 02:54.776
>> NEW YORK CITY‘S 
CHINATOWN USED TO BE OPEN UNTI

02:54.777 --> 02:55.000
CHINATOWN USED TO BE OPEN UNTI
1:00,

02:55.011 --> 02:57.044
1:00, 
2:00,

02:57.079 --> 02:57.602
2:00, 
3:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING,

02:57.613 --> 02:59.848
3:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING, 
NOWADAYS MANY RESTAURANTS ARE

02:59.882 --> 03:00.305
NOWADAYS MANY RESTAURANTS ARE 
CLOSED BY 7:30 ON

03:00.316 --> 03:00.481
CLOSED BY 7:30 ON 
8:00.

03:00.483 --> 03:01.350
8:00. 
>> Reporter: ACROSS THE

03:01.384 --> 03:02.541
>> Reporter: ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY THE ASIAN POPULATIONS

03:02.552 --> 03:02.774
COUNTRY THE ASIAN POPULATIONS 
LIVING

03:02.785 --> 03:06.087
LIVING
IN SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT

03:06.088 --> 03:08.056
IN SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT 
CHINATOWNS DECLINED BETWEEN

03:08.090 --> 03:08.980
CHINATOWNS DECLINED BETWEEN 
1990 AND 2020.

03:08.991 --> 03:10.248
1990 AND 2020.
FAMILIES ARE NOT GIVING UP.

03:10.259 --> 03:12.384
FAMILIES ARE NOT GIVING UP. 
BUSINESS OWNERS HE IS

03:12.395 --> 03:13.795
BUSINESS OWNERS HE IS 
ARE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

03:13.796 --> 03:15.387
ARE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE 
MAKING CHANGES TO MODERNIZE,

03:15.398 --> 03:16.164
MAKING CHANGES TO MODERNIZE,
ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS,

03:16.198 --> 03:16.554
ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS, 
LAUNCHING A

03:16.565 --> 03:17.999
LAUNCHING A 
WEBSITE, GETTING THE WORD OUT

03:18.000 --> 03:19.300
WEBSITE, GETTING THE WORD OUT 
ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

03:19.302 --> 03:20.669
ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
LOOKING FORWARD WITHOUT LOSING

03:20.703 --> 03:22.571
LOOKING FORWARD WITHOUT LOSING
WHAT MAKES THEIR COMMUNITIES

03:22.705 --> 03:23.228
                            %
SPECIAL.

03:23.239 --> 03:24.173
SPECIAL.
>> CHINATOWN OFFERS SO MUCH

03:24.207 --> 03:24.363
>> CHINATOWN OFFERS SO MUCH 
MORE

03:24.374 --> 03:25.473
MORE
THAN JUST RESTAURANTS.

03:25.508 --> 03:28.333
THAN JUST RESTAURANTS.
IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY

03:28.344 --> 03:29.611
IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY
LIKE CHINATOWN TO THE

03:29.612 --> 03:31.837
LIKE CHINATOWN TO THE 
FULLEST, YOU HAVE TO DIG DEEPE

03:31.848 --> 03:32.114
FULLEST, YOU HAVE TO DIG DEEPE
THAN THAT.

03:32.215 --> 03:34.483
                            %
>> HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE

03:34.517 --> 03:36.641
>> HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE
CHINATOWNS TO THE

03:36.652 --> 03:38.653
CHINATOWNS TO THE 
CULTURAL FABRIC OF THE ENTIRE

03:38.654 --> 03:39.811
CULTURAL FABRIC OF THE ENTIRE 
FAMILY.

03:39.822 --> 03:42.791
FAMILY. 
>> CHINATOWNS ARE QUITE

03:42.825 --> 03:43.081
>> CHINATOWNS ARE QUITE 
DIVERSE.

03:43.092 --> 03:45.294
DIVERSE.
I

03:45.328 --> 03:45.984
I 
THINK THEY‘RE JUST AMERICA AS

03:45.995 --> 03:47.553
THINK THEY‘RE JUST AMERICA AS
A WHOLE BEING A

03:47.564 --> 03:49.097
A WHOLE BEING A 
MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY THESE

03:49.132 --> 03:49.555
MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY THESE 
CHINA TOWNS

03:49.566 --> 03:50.632
CHINA TOWNS 
DO REPRESENT THE BEST OF

03:50.633 --> 03:50.832
DO REPRESENT THE BEST OF
THAT.

03:50.833 --> 03:51.933
THAT. 
>> WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GO

03:51.935 --> 03:54.003
>> WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GO
THAT TELLS THE STORY OF HOW

03:54.037 --> 03:55.137
THAT TELLS THE STORY OF HOW 
IMMIGRANTS HAVE GOTTEN A

03:55.138 --> 03:57.539
IMMIGRANTS HAVE GOTTEN A
FOOT HOLD IN THIS COUNTRY AND

03:57.540 --> 04:01.066
FOOT HOLD IN THIS COUNTRY AND 
BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE

04:01.077 --> 04:01.443
BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE 
AMERICAN

04:01.444 --> 04:01.710
AMERICAN
DREAM?

04:01.744 --> 04:01.843
DREAM?

04:01.845 --> 04:02.744
                            %
>> Reporter: A DREAM