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[[Image:Joy Young 1937.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Joy Young in [[1937]]]]
[[Image:Joy Young 1937.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Joy Young in [[1937]]]]
[[Image:Joy Young interior postcard.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Joy Young interior in the 1960s]]
[[Image:Joy Young interior postcard.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Joy Young interior in the 1960s]]
'''Joy Young Restaurant''' was a landmark Chinese restaurant at 412-414 [[20th Street North]].
'''Joy Young Restaurant''', also called '''Joy Young Cafe''', was a landmark Chinese restaurant at 412-414 [[20th Street North]].


According to Kristen Lee, her great grandparents, a man and wife named "Joe" (zho-ee) were the first Chinese family to settle in Alabama, having arrived in the Port of Mobile from Canton (Guangzhou) China in the late 1880s. With no knowledge of English, they struggled in their new home.
According to Kristen Lee, her great grandparents, a man and wife named "Joe" (zho-ee) were the first Chinese family to settle in Alabama, having arrived in the Port of Mobile from Canton (Guangzhou) China in the late 1880s. With no knowledge of English, they struggled in their new home.
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Joe and manager [[Henry Loo]] had earned reputations as friendly, generous businessmen, sometimes helping provide meals to the needy. That reputation served them well as the [[Ku Klux Klan]] found no support from the public in efforts to drive the restaurant out of business. On [[January 2]], [[1926]] Joy Young and two other Chinese restaurants, [[Shanghai Low]] and [[King Joy]], were "raided" by eight men wearing masks and hoods, purportedly serving "warrants" for the alleged sale of whiskey to diners in private booths. The raiders abducted suspected partakers and brought them to the county jail, but were turned away.  [[Virginia Bridge & Iron Co.]] engineer [[W. W. Israel]], an officer of the "[[Woodlawn Ku Klux Klan No. 59]]" affirmed that he was an instigator of the raids, which were subsequently panned as illegal, and at least two of the hooded participants were said to have been sworn "special deputies" of the [[Jefferson County Sheriff's Office]]. The owners of the businesses made plans to file lawsuits against the raiders. Mansion consulted with attorney [[Hugo Black]]. The restaurant owners set aside those plans as two grand juries began investigations. Sheriff [[T. J. Shirley]] was out of town on the night of the raids, but later complained that the publicity of the incident, "was only a plot on the part of newspapers to run down the Ku Klux Klan, and that the fact that persons were found in the cafes drinking was as big a crime as hooded raiders."
Joe and manager [[Henry Loo]] had earned reputations as friendly, generous businessmen, sometimes helping provide meals to the needy. That reputation served them well as the [[Ku Klux Klan]] found no support from the public in efforts to drive the restaurant out of business. On [[January 2]], [[1926]] Joy Young and two other Chinese restaurants, [[Shanghai Low]] and [[King Joy]], were "raided" by eight men wearing masks and hoods, purportedly serving "warrants" for the alleged sale of whiskey to diners in private booths. The raiders abducted suspected partakers and brought them to the county jail, but were turned away.  [[Virginia Bridge & Iron Co.]] engineer [[W. W. Israel]], an officer of the "[[Woodlawn Ku Klux Klan No. 59]]" affirmed that he was an instigator of the raids, which were subsequently panned as illegal, and at least two of the hooded participants were said to have been sworn "special deputies" of the [[Jefferson County Sheriff's Office]]. The owners of the businesses made plans to file lawsuits against the raiders. Mansion consulted with attorney [[Hugo Black]]. The restaurant owners set aside those plans as two grand juries began investigations. Sheriff [[T. J. Shirley]] was out of town on the night of the raids, but later complained that the publicity of the incident, "was only a plot on the part of newspapers to run down the Ku Klux Klan, and that the fact that persons were found in the cafes drinking was as big a crime as hooded raiders."


Several varieties of "chop suey", "egg fooyoung", and "chow mein" dominated the portion of the menu labeled "Mandarin Style". The other half of the menu listed "American" favorites for less adventurous diners. The restaurant served seafood, poultry and meats with French fried or creamed potatoes, English peas and fried tomatoes, and club or chicken salad sandwiches.  
Several varieties of "chop suey", "egg fooyoung", and "chow mein" dominated the portion of the menu labeled "Mandarin Style". The other half of the menu listed "American" favorites for less adventurous diners. The restaurant served seafood, poultry and meats with French fried or creamed potatoes, English peas and fried tomatoes, and club or chicken salad sandwiches.
 
A major remodeling in [[1935]] resulted in what was then heralded as the "New Joy Young Restaurant". [[Miller, Martin & Lewis Architects]] designed the renovations, which were carried out by [[S. Lewis & Co.]]. The renovation included air conditioning and a neon marquee constructed by the [[Alabama Neon Sign Co.]] When it re-opened on [[August 19]], the restaurant featured live music from [[Rudy Clark]] and his [[Melody Makers]] nightly.


[[Image:Joy Young menu sm.jpg|left|thumb|225px|A Joy Young menu from [[1950]]]]
[[Image:Joy Young menu sm.jpg|left|thumb|225px|A Joy Young menu from [[1950]]]]
The restaurant was remodeled in [[1946]] with new electric kitchen equipment and refreshed dining rooms. The ''[[Birmingham News]]'' listed Joy Young's fried chicken (1/2 spring chicken, fried for $1.25 in [[1950]]) as the best in Birmingham. Some of the booths had curtains that could be drawn for privacy. The reviewing stand for the annual [[Veteran's Day Parade]] was usually directly across the street from Joy Young. Another major remodeling took place in [[1954]]. At the time the staff of 70 included, "a new master baker from Bremen, Germany, who will prepare new Bavarian dishes such as cakes, pies, rolls, for your added pleasure."
The restaurant was remodeled in [[1946]] with new electric kitchen equipment and refreshed dining rooms. The ''[[Birmingham News]]'' listed Joy Young's fried chicken (1/2 spring chicken, fried for $1.25 in [[1950]]) as the best in Birmingham. Some of the booths had curtains that could be drawn for privacy. The reviewing stand for the annual [[Veteran's Day Parade]] was usually directly across the street from Joy Young.
 
Another major remodeling took place between July and September [[1954]]. At the time the staff of 70 included, "a new master baker from Bremen, Germany, who will prepare new Bavarian dishes such as cakes, pies, rolls, for your added pleasure."
 
Second-generation restaurateurs [[Wing Soon Joe]] and [[Loo Choy]] were involved in the restaurant's heyday. Loo Choy died in [[1959]]. In the [[1964]] city directory, the proprietor is listed as [[George Sai|George W. Sai]]. <!--In the 1960s a new location on [[Highland Avenue]] opened as '''New Joy Young Restaurant'''. Another "Joy Young" restaurant operated in Memphis.-->


Second-generation restaurateurs [[Wing Soon Joe]] and [[Loo Choy]] were involved in the restaurant's heyday. In the [[1964]] city directory, the proprietor is listed as [[George Sai|George W. Sai]]. In the 1960s a new location on [[Highland Avenue]] opened as '''New Joy Young Restaurant'''. Another "Joy Young" restaurant operated in Memphis.
The closing of the Tutwiler Hotel in [[1972]] impacted the visibility of the restaurant to out-of-town visitors. Its sign is visible in scenes from the 1976 film ''[[Stay Hungry]]''. In [[1978]] third-generation owner [[Henry Joe]] told {{BPH}} reporter [[Peter de Selding]] that [[Jefferson County Health Department]] inspectors, who had formerly been "capricious", were treating the business more fairly, relating that "The inspector tells us what has to be done, and we do it."


The closing of the Tutwiler Hotel in [[1972]] impacted the visibility of the restaurant to out-of-town visitors. Its sign is visible in scenes from the 1976 film ''[[Stay Hungry]]''. In [[1981]] developer [[Raymond Gotlieb]] attempted to buy up most of [[Block 60]], including the Joy Young building, which was owned by [[Cameron Grammas]] and [[Phil Hontzas]]. Those efforts were complicated by the [[Birmingham City Council]]'s delay in formally adopting the [[1979 Downtown Master Plan]] as its urban renewal and redevelopment plan, which would have given property owners facing the threat of condemnation access to tax incentives for relocating.
In [[1981]] developer [[Raymond Gotlieb]] attempted to buy up most of [[Block 60]], including the Joy Young building, which was owned by [[Cameron Grammas]] and [[Phil Hontzas]]. Those efforts were complicated by the [[Birmingham City Council]]'s delay in formally adopting the [[1979 Downtown Master Plan]] as its urban renewal and redevelopment plan, which would have given property owners facing the threat of condemnation access to tax incentives for relocating.


Joy Young closed its downtown location in the mid 1980s. Third-generation owner [[Henry Joe]] reopened in the [[Brookwood Gallery]], a retail strip on the ground floor of the [[Brookwood Medical Center]] parking deck where it operated for several more years. His brother, [[Jimmy Joe]] strayed from the restaurant business and became a salesman at [[Gus Mayer]].
Joy Young closed its downtown location in the mid 1980s. Henry Joe reopened in the [[Brookwood Gallery]], a retail strip on the ground floor of the [[Brookwood Medical Center]] parking deck where it operated for several more years. His brother, [[Jimmy Joe]], worked in the family restaurant as a child, but pursued a career away from food service and became a salesman at [[Gus Mayer]].


Joy Young Restaurant ended its life as a take-out egg roll store in [[Pelham]]. Some have noted that the egg rolls and other dishes at the [[Chop Suey Inn]] on [[Green Springs Highway]] in [[Homewood]] are unmistakably similar to Joy Young's.
Joy Young Restaurant ended its life as a take-out egg roll store in [[Pelham]]. Some have noted that the egg rolls and other dishes at the [[Chop Suey Inn]] on [[Green Springs Highway]] in [[Homewood]] are unmistakably similar to Joy Young's.
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==References==
==References==
* "New Chinese Restaurant" (June 10, 1922) {{BN}}, p. 7
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/40986885/ New Chinese Restaurant]" (June 10, 1922) {{BN}}, p. 7
* "Plan To Swap Girls Leads To Encounter" (October 12, 1924) {{BN}}, p. 10
* "Plan To Swap Girls Leads To Encounter" (October 12, 1924) {{BN}}, p. 10
* "Restaurant Raid Violation of Law, Officers Declare." (January 4, 1926) {{BN}}, p. 1
* "Restaurant Raid Violation of Law, Officers Declare." (January 4, 1926) {{BN}}, p. 1
* "Probe Is Started of Masked Raid on Chinese Cafe" (January 5, 1926) {{BN}}, p. 1
* "Probe Is Started of Masked Raid on Chinese Cafe" (January 5, 1926) {{BN}}, p. 1
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-insert-18-aug-1935-j/106996445/ We Open Monday]" advertisement (August 18, 1935) {{BN}}
* De Selding, Peter (July 15, 1978) "Restaurants can get by with low standards." {{BPH}}, p. 1–2
* Stevens, Deborah L. (September 28, 1980) "From China to Homewood, Joe family follows tradition." {{BN}}, p. B1
* Frieden, Kitty (February 27, 1981) "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/digital/collection/p16044coll6/id/940/rec/3 Firm hopes to get key property pieces today for complex]" {{BN}} - via {{BPLDC}}
* Frieden, Kitty (February 27, 1981) "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/digital/collection/p16044coll6/id/940/rec/3 Firm hopes to get key property pieces today for complex]" {{BN}} - via {{BPLDC}}
* Lee, Kristen. "I Come from a Family that is Considered 'White'" Newsletter of the Asian Student Union at San Francisco State University. [http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~asu/Newsletter/nws04KLee2.html] - accessed March 27, 2006
* Lee, Kristen. "I Come from a Family that is Considered 'White'" Newsletter of the Asian Student Union at San Francisco State University. [http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~asu/Newsletter/nws04KLee2.html] - accessed March 27, 2006
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[[Category:20th Street North]]
[[Category:20th Street North]]
[[Category:1922 establishments]]
[[Category:1922 establishments]]
[[Category:1935 buildings]]
[[Category:Miller, Martin & Lewis buildings]]
[[Category:1980s disestablishments]
[[Category:1980s disestablishments]

Revision as of 09:47, 24 June 2023

Joy Young in 1937
Joy Young interior in the 1960s

Joy Young Restaurant, also called Joy Young Cafe, was a landmark Chinese restaurant at 412-414 20th Street North.

According to Kristen Lee, her great grandparents, a man and wife named "Joe" (zho-ee) were the first Chinese family to settle in Alabama, having arrived in the Port of Mobile from Canton (Guangzhou) China in the late 1880s. With no knowledge of English, they struggled in their new home.

In 1919 then 23-year-old Mansion Joe and three partners, including Loo Bing, opened a restaurant called King Joy on 3rd Avenue North in Birmingham. In June 1922 Joe opened Joy Young Restaurant in the former Beaver's Cafe at 115 20th Street North. Thomas Willard, a foreman for the Terry Showcase Company, constructed the interior woodwork, including staircases, wainscoting and dining booths of gum and poplar with mahogany details.

In October 1924 the café was the scene of a fight between two men that required six detectives and two patrolmen to quell, leaving the dining room in disarray.

In October 1925 the restaurant moved to 412 20th Street North opposite the Tutwiler Hotel, soon expanding into the former shop next door.

Joe and manager Henry Loo had earned reputations as friendly, generous businessmen, sometimes helping provide meals to the needy. That reputation served them well as the Ku Klux Klan found no support from the public in efforts to drive the restaurant out of business. On January 2, 1926 Joy Young and two other Chinese restaurants, Shanghai Low and King Joy, were "raided" by eight men wearing masks and hoods, purportedly serving "warrants" for the alleged sale of whiskey to diners in private booths. The raiders abducted suspected partakers and brought them to the county jail, but were turned away. Virginia Bridge & Iron Co. engineer W. W. Israel, an officer of the "Woodlawn Ku Klux Klan No. 59" affirmed that he was an instigator of the raids, which were subsequently panned as illegal, and at least two of the hooded participants were said to have been sworn "special deputies" of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The owners of the businesses made plans to file lawsuits against the raiders. Mansion consulted with attorney Hugo Black. The restaurant owners set aside those plans as two grand juries began investigations. Sheriff T. J. Shirley was out of town on the night of the raids, but later complained that the publicity of the incident, "was only a plot on the part of newspapers to run down the Ku Klux Klan, and that the fact that persons were found in the cafes drinking was as big a crime as hooded raiders."

Several varieties of "chop suey", "egg fooyoung", and "chow mein" dominated the portion of the menu labeled "Mandarin Style". The other half of the menu listed "American" favorites for less adventurous diners. The restaurant served seafood, poultry and meats with French fried or creamed potatoes, English peas and fried tomatoes, and club or chicken salad sandwiches.

A major remodeling in 1935 resulted in what was then heralded as the "New Joy Young Restaurant". Miller, Martin & Lewis Architects designed the renovations, which were carried out by S. Lewis & Co.. The renovation included air conditioning and a neon marquee constructed by the Alabama Neon Sign Co. When it re-opened on August 19, the restaurant featured live music from Rudy Clark and his Melody Makers nightly.

A Joy Young menu from 1950

The restaurant was remodeled in 1946 with new electric kitchen equipment and refreshed dining rooms. The Birmingham News listed Joy Young's fried chicken (1/2 spring chicken, fried for $1.25 in 1950) as the best in Birmingham. Some of the booths had curtains that could be drawn for privacy. The reviewing stand for the annual Veteran's Day Parade was usually directly across the street from Joy Young.

Another major remodeling took place between July and September 1954. At the time the staff of 70 included, "a new master baker from Bremen, Germany, who will prepare new Bavarian dishes such as cakes, pies, rolls, for your added pleasure."

Second-generation restaurateurs Wing Soon Joe and Loo Choy were involved in the restaurant's heyday. Loo Choy died in 1959. In the 1964 city directory, the proprietor is listed as George W. Sai.

The closing of the Tutwiler Hotel in 1972 impacted the visibility of the restaurant to out-of-town visitors. Its sign is visible in scenes from the 1976 film Stay Hungry. In 1978 third-generation owner Henry Joe told Birmingham Post-Herald reporter Peter de Selding that Jefferson County Health Department inspectors, who had formerly been "capricious", were treating the business more fairly, relating that "The inspector tells us what has to be done, and we do it."

In 1981 developer Raymond Gotlieb attempted to buy up most of Block 60, including the Joy Young building, which was owned by Cameron Grammas and Phil Hontzas. Those efforts were complicated by the Birmingham City Council's delay in formally adopting the 1979 Downtown Master Plan as its urban renewal and redevelopment plan, which would have given property owners facing the threat of condemnation access to tax incentives for relocating.

Joy Young closed its downtown location in the mid 1980s. Henry Joe reopened in the Brookwood Gallery, a retail strip on the ground floor of the Brookwood Medical Center parking deck where it operated for several more years. His brother, Jimmy Joe, worked in the family restaurant as a child, but pursued a career away from food service and became a salesman at Gus Mayer.

Joy Young Restaurant ended its life as a take-out egg roll store in Pelham. Some have noted that the egg rolls and other dishes at the Chop Suey Inn on Green Springs Highway in Homewood are unmistakably similar to Joy Young's.

Mansion Joe's great-grandson, Chris Joe, whose portrait as a child once appeared on the cover of Joy Young's children's menu, worked in the family's business before graduating to other restaurant jobs. After taking a break from cooking during the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched a food trailer called "Rickshaw" which featured a blend of American-inflected Asian dishes.

External link

References

[[Category:1980s disestablishments]

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