Following an armed robbery at a restaurant in Chinatown Tuesday night, activists and residents are calling for more police protection and surveillance in the neighborhood.
Two unknown men entered Ken Kee Restaurant in the 2100 block of South China Place at 11:43 p.m., according to Chicago police, adding that the men took personal belongings from a 34-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, before fleeing north on foot. No injuries were reported.
No suspects are in custody, and police said they are investigating.
At a Wednesday news conference, community activist Dr. Kim Tee said the manager of Ken Kee Restaurant told him the men demanded employees hand over money from the cash register at gunpoint. He said Chinatown is “under attack” from armed robbers targeting the area and that residents feel unsafe.
“Everyone compiled … but still armed robbery is a serious offense,” he said. “We do not want them to come back and terrorize the neighborhood.”
He believes more lighting, surveillance cameras and squad cars patrolling the area, especially at night, would deter criminals.
The Chinatown restaurant is known for its traditional cantonese dishes and eye-catching aesthetic inspired by the streets and markets of 1950s Hong Kong. According to its website, it’s also the first Chicago eatery that’s dedicated to serving cart noodle, a dish street vendors in Hong Kong popularized in the 1950s.
“Cart noodle takes tons of heart and dedication to prepare,” the website said. “With usually more than 20 toppings, numerous types of noodles, each item takes (a) specific technique to cook to perfection.”
Jojo Chen, a manager at Evergreen Home Care, which is located near the restaurant, said some of her elderly clients are worried about robberies when they walk outside, and hesitate to venture out often.
“I hope the government lets people feel safe,” she said.
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In 2023, 84 robberies were reported in the Chinatown neighborhood, about a 25% decrease compared with the 113 robberies reported the year before, according to a Tribune analysis of Chicago police crime data. This year, as of Jan. 28, eight robberies were reported in the neighborhood.
However, there has been an increase in robberies in Chinatown since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, 50 robberies were reported, 60 in 2020 and 113 in 2021.
Chinatown is home to many of the city’s Chinese community and immigrants, as well as Koreans, Vietnamese and other Asians and Pacific Islanders. The neighborhood is heavily dependent on tourism, and faced a challenging recovery after the pandemic.
Ald. Nicole Lee, 11th, said in a statement that she learned of the robbery early Wednesday morning. She said her office is coordinating with police to immediately increase its presence and patrols in Chinatown Square. She said restaurant staff and patrons shouldn’t “have to live in fear in our community.”
“Given that this was a more brazen robbery than we are accustomed to seeing in Chinatown, I was relieved to learn that none of the staff or patrons were injured,” she said.
She asked that neighbors share any information or video that could be useful to the investigation with CPD’s 9th District at 312-747-8227.
The Tribune’s Sam Charles contributed reporting.