Comptroller Mendoza highlights Chinatown in latest neighborhood video

Let Comptroller Susana Mendoza be your tour guide as she and 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole Lee explore Chinatown, just south of downtown Chicago.

“I love making these videos and showing the public the rich traditions and uniqueness of fun communities in our city and our state,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “Our neighborhoods are home to amazing people, food and cultures and I want to show potential visitors and locals all of the fun places they may have never considered trying before.”

In the new Chinatown video, viewers will be treated to stops at the Nine Dragon Wall, the Chinatown Square Zodiacs, the new Visitor Center, Chiu Quon Bakery, the Pui Tak Center, the “Backdraft” firehouse, B.B.Q. King House, Joy Yee, Sakura Karaoke and the Ping Tom Park Pavilion where the Chicago Water Taxi stops.

This video is the third in a series Comptroller Mendoza is creating this year focusing on ethnic business corridors hurting from immigration crackdowns or other economic pressures. Previous videos focused on Little Village and Asia on Argyle. She has also done videos and a cover story in the Comptroller’s Fiscal Focus magazine encouraging people to visit Southern Illinois.

Boosting tourism to Chinatown brings in more sales taxes for the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois, which helps Comptroller Mendoza pay the state’s bills.

“There’s so much to see and do right here at home without even leaving the state,” Mendoza said. “I’d love for people from all over Illinois to see all these treasures we have right here in our own backyard. Why not visit Chinatown this weekend!”

As with the first two, this video features a cameo by retired Western Illinois farmer Dick Bigger, Jr., trying his hand at Karaoke at Sakura.

Chinatown is home to more than 28,000 people, including many Chinese and Chinese American residents. There are over 400 businesses in the area.