Dean Wong: Made in Chinatonw, USA - Golden Horse Restaurant

"Standing behind the counter of the Golden Horse Restaurant owner Sophie Li remembers when Portland Chinatown was full of life.

“Before there were lots of people living here. In the old days, lots of Chinese people. Chinatown was more busy. More Chinese people came down here,” she said.

She remembers the large grocery store serving the Chinatown community. The restaurant was open longer hours back then. Now most customers are nearby office workers.

During my visits to Chinatown, I hear about properties being sold and see new buildings going up. “Now no one wants to open (a Chinese) restaurant,” Sophie tells me, then puts it more bluntly.

“They want the Chinese to move out and use the land,” she said."