imported>Hobbitina: /* Ruby Chow's Restaurant */ clarify agreement

2025-12-20T20:36:36Z

Ruby Chow's Restaurant: clarify agreement

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{{short description|American politician (1920–2008)}}

{{family name hatnote|[[Zhou (surname)|Chow]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Chair of the [[King County Council]]
| term_start = January 1, 1979
| term_end = January 1, 1982
| predecessor = [[Bernice Stern]]
| successor = [[Lois North]]
| office2 = Member of the [[King County Council]] from the 5th district
| term_start2 = January 1, 1974
| term_end2 = January 1, 1986
| predecessor2 = [[Johnny O'Brien|John T. O'Brien]]
| successor2 = [[Ron Sims]]
| birth_name = Mar Seung-gum
| birth_date = {{birth date |1920|06|06}}
| birth_place = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|6|4|1920|06|06}}
| death_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|restaurateur}}
| spouse = Edward Shui "Ping" Chow
| children = 5 Edward Chow Jr Shelton Chow [[Cheryl Chow]] Brien Chow Mark Chow
}}

'''Ruby Chow''' (June 6, 1920 – June 4, 2008; {{zh|t=周馬雙金|p=Zhōu Mǎ Shuāngjīn|j=zau1 maa5 soeng1 gam1|first=j}}) was a [[Chinese American]] restaurateur and politician in [[Seattle, Washington]]. In 1974, she became the first and initially the only Asian American elected to the [[King County Council]] and served until her retirement in 1986.

==Early life==
Chow was born '''Mar Seung-gum''',<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Valdes |first=Manuel |date=June 8, 2008 |title=Ruby Chow, Seattle's Chinese-American matriarch, dies |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jun/08/ruby-chow-seattles-chinese-american-matriarch-dies/ |work=The Spokesman Review |accessdate=November 23, 2016}}</ref> on June 6, 1920, in [[Seattle]] to Jim Sing Mar and Wong See.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Chesley |first=Frank |date=January 18, 2007 |title=Chow, Ruby (1920-2008) |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8063 |accessdate=July 16, 2008 |work=[[HistoryLink]]}}</ref> Her parents were Chinese immigrants: Mar was from Hoi Yuen, [[Guangdong]] and moved to the U.S. to build railroads, later managing the San Juan Fishing and Canning Company dock in downtown Seattle.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Emmett |date=December 27, 1994 |title=A Rare Lady Served Suey, County Well {{!}} The Seattle Times |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19941227/1949376/a-rare-lady-served-suey-county-well |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=Seattle Times}}</ref> This was part of Seattle's first [[Chinatown–International District, Seattle|Chinatown]], where many dock and cannery workers lived.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lau |first=Betty |date=2021-12-01 |title=Seattle Histories: Chinatown Childhood |url=https://frontporch.seattle.gov/2021/12/01/seattle-histories-chinatown-childhood/ |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=Front Porch - Seattle Department of Neighborhoods |language=en-US}}</ref> Chow was born on a fishing dock there with the help of a midwife.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Meet the Women Who Fought for Their Place in Seattle Politics |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2019/11/meet-the-women-who-fought-for-their-place-in-seattle-politics |access-date=February 18, 2020 |website=Seattle Met |language=en-US}}</ref>

Chow was the oldest of three sisters and had seven brothers. Her family moved to Seattle's second and third Chinatown as they were established. She attended Bailey Gatzert Elementary, Washington Junior High, and [[Garfield High School (Seattle)|Garfield]] and [[Franklin High School (Seattle)|Franklin]] High.<ref name=":1" />

When Chow was 12, her father died. It was the depths of the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], and the family struggled to get food.<ref name=":1" /> See worked three jobs and was ostracized for her family's poverty, which made a lasting impression on Chow.<ref name=":2" /> Chow dropped out of high school at 16 to help support the family.<ref name=":1" /> She started waiting tables for two dollars a day.<ref name=":0" />

At 17, Chow moved to New York and worked as a waitress at the Howdy Club, a gay bar. See died in 1939.<ref name=":1" />

==Career==
Chow and her second husband, Ping Chow, moved to Seattle in 1943.<ref name=":1" /> Ruby was inspired to move by a vision of her mother asking her to return home and help her family. The Chows lived in Seattle's third [[Chinatown–International District, Seattle|Chinatown]], and both worked at the Hong Kong Restaurant, with Ruby waitressing and Ping cooking.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Brad |date=June 4, 2008 |title=Ruby Chow, 1920-2008: City loses political, cultural trailblazer |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Ruby-Chow-1920-2008-City-loses-political-1275470.php |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211202002126/https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Ruby-Chow-1920-2008-City-loses-political-1275470.php |archive-date=2021-12-02 |access-date=2025-12-06 |work=Seattle PI |language=en-US}}</ref> Ruby was a popular waitress, particularly among white customers.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" />

=== Ruby Chow's Restaurant ===
The Chows opened Ruby Chow's Restaurant in 1948 at 1122 Jefferson Street (at the corner of Broadway & Jefferson) in Seattle's [[First Hill, Seattle|First Hill]] neighborhood.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burrows |first=Alyssa |date=October 21, 2002 |title=Lee, Bruce (1940-1973) |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/3999 |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=[[HistoryLink]]}}</ref> It was the first Chinese restaurant outside of Seattle's Chinatown. Ping cooked and Ruby was the hostess.<ref name=":2" /> Ping was a famous [[Cantonese opera]] star, and he performed at the restaurant after closing time at 2 a.m.<ref name=":5" />

Ruby Chow's was the first upscale Chinese restaurant in Seattle and became a quick success, serving as the unofficial local gathering spot for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref name=":1" /> CEOs and journalists frequented the restaurant, and celebrities like [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] and [[Sidney Poitier]] visited.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> As hostess, Chow was memorable with her [[Beehive (hairstyle)|beehive]] hairdo, but she was also able to fit in with her clientele and enter the conversations of her powerful male customers.<ref name=":0" /> Chow also rented the [[attic]] of the restaurant to [[Bruce Lee]], who worked in her restaurant for four years.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Citation |title=周露比與李小龍 Ruby Chow & Bruce Lee {{!}} 乜乜棠水舖 |date=September 23, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA2zQUzbT8E |access-date=April 17, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Chow let Lee stay in exchange for working in the restaurant, but she clashed with Lee over work, and later over his choice to teach martial arts to Black students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Potts |first=Billy |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Young Bruce Lee, Part I: Street Brawling and Cha-Cha Dancing in Seattle |url=https://zolimacitymag.com/young-bruce-lee-part-i-street-brawling-and-cha-cha-dancing-in-seattle-chinatown/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Zolima City Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Molloy |first=Tim |date=June 30, 2018 |title=How Bruce Lee Used Kung Fu to Beat Bigotry (Podcast) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/how-bruce-lee-used-kung-fu-to-break-color-lines-bigotry/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Chows retired from their restaurant in 1979 when they leased it to a new business.<ref name=":1" />

=== Advocacy ===
Chow wanted to improve relations between [[White Americans|white]] and [[Chinese Americans|Chinese American]] residents of Seattle, increasing white people's understanding of Chinese culture and thus decreasing their fear of the local Chinese American community.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Marie Rose |date=November 15, 2021 |title=The Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team: Forging a Tradition One Step at a Time |url=https://frontporch.seattle.gov/2021/11/15/the-seattle-chinese-community-girls-drill-team-forging-a-tradition-one-step-at-a-time/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Front Porch: Seattle Department of Neighborhoods |language=en-US}}</ref> She spoke to the [[Chong Wa Benevolent Association]], which supported Chinese immigrants in Seattle, about starting a public relations campaign for the local Chinese American community.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chong Wa Benevolent Association |url=https://historylink.tours/stop/chong-wa-benevolent-association/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=HistoryLink Tours |language=en-US}}</ref> Chong Wa was run by men but appointed Chow as their public relations chair.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Marc |date=July 6, 2002 |title=Chinese drill team helps girls find own rhythms |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20020706/drill06/chinese-drill-team-helps-girls-find-own-rhythms |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Chow pushed many local organizations to [[Racial integration|integrate]], including the Seafair Queen pageant, the Bell company, and government and school boards. In another approach, Chow and her husband appeared on local TV shows to share Chinese cooking, including hosting their own show for two years on KSTW-TV. They also published recipes from their restaurant.<ref name=":1" />

In 1952, Ruby Chow helped found the [[Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team]] after she and high school members of the Chi-ettes saw other Chinese American girls drill teams perform at local events. Chow hoped the team would produce cultural pride, better community relations, and empower young women in the Chinese American community, many of whom had severely restricted options for extracurricular activities due to gender and cultural expectations at the time. Chow recruited Ted Yerabek, a member of the [[Seattle Police Department]]'s drill team, as the group's instructor. Chow led the team herself as its director, and obtained the sponsorship of Chong Wa. Ping Chow, Ruby Chow's husband, designed costumes taking inspiration from the women warriors represented in Cantonese opera. Ruby Chow had the team perform the gin-lai, single bow, at the end of performances to honor reviewers. The team performed yearly at [[Seafair]] parades and traveled across the country for competitions, winning many awards over decades. Chow's daughter [[Cheryl Chow|Cheryl]] competed with the team and eventually succeeded Yerabek as its instructor, volunteering with them for 50 years.<ref name=":6" />

Chow was elected to the Chong Wa board in 1957, becoming the first woman in the world to sit on the board of a chapter of the [[Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association]]. She was elected president of Chong Wa in 1975, likewise becoming the first woman to hold that position.<ref name=":1" />

Chow raised funds to help create the [[Wing Luke Museum]] in the 1960s, continuing her involvement as a donor.<ref name=":2" />

=== Politics ===
Chow leveraged her resources as a restaurant owner and community organizer to help get [[Wing Luke]] elected to the [[Seattle City Council]] in 1962 by having all the Chinese restaurants print "It's wise to vote for Wing Luke" as their fortune cookie fortunes.<ref name=":0" />

Chow was a member of Seattle's Citizens Waterfront Task Force, formed after the city faced intense criticism in 1970 over its plans for a new waterfront park. The commission was convened to gather the feedback of a more representative group of community members and this became one of Seattle's first instances of community input into a public planning process.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ott |first=Jennifer |date=November 13, 2013 |title=Shaping Seattle's Central Waterfront, Part 2: From "Back Alley" to "Front Porch" |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/10666 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=[[HistoryLink]]}}</ref>

In 1971, [[King County Executive]] [[John Spellman]] appointed Chow to the Board of Equalization and Appeals. He later stated that he chose her because he and many others knew Chow, and she was a leader in the community. Two years later, Chow helped free 75 Chinese Americans arrested for gambling during a [[Chinese New Year]] raid by the Seattle Police Department. Chow visited the mayor of Seattle and questioned how race was a factor in the arrests. She got all of the arrested children and elderly people released from jail and fundraised bail money for the rest, while ensuring people were only given tickets for the situation.<ref name=":1" />

Chow's political career started in 1973 when she decided to run for [[King County Council]] as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]. She had an encounter with [[Ted Bundy]] (later known to be a serial killer) who, as a [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] campaign worker, tried to convince Chow, unsuccessfully, to go Republican. She stayed with the Democratic Party and ran for the District 5 seat previously occupied by Republican [[John T. O'Brien (politician)|John T. O’Brien]], winning the seat by 220 votes against Black activist Walter Hubbard Jr.<ref name=":1" />

Chow served three terms as a [[King County, Washington|King County]] councilwoman in [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. She was the first [[Asian American]] elected to King County Council, the first [[person of color]], and the second woman, after [[Bernice Stern]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chesley |first=Frank |date=November 7, 2006 |title=Stern, Bernice (1916-2007) |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8003 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=HistoryLink}}</ref><ref name="chowpark" /> Chow later won re-election against another Black activist, [[Garcia Massingale]], and later Massingale and [[Ron Sims]].<ref name=":1" /> She was elected Vice-Chair of the council in 1978, and she won Chair in 1979.<ref name="chowpark" /> She retired after her third term in 1985, and Sims followed her as District 5 councilmember, although Chow's daughter [[Cheryl Chow]] also ran for the seat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crowley |first=Walt |last2=Tate |first2=Cassandra |date=November 9, 2006 |title=Sims, Ron (b. 1948) |url=https://www.historylink.org/file/8007 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=[[HistoryLink]]}}</ref>

On the council, Chow advocated to add bus stops and tennis courts to the [[South End, Seattle|South End]], which often was under-resourced compared to North Seattle. She also helped start bilingual programs in [[Seattle Public Schools]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2008 |title=The unstoppable Ruby Chow |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2004464093_chowed07.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609182402/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2004464093_chowed07.html |archive-date=2008-06-09 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref> She was an advocate for maintaining the name and identity of "Chinatown" for the [[Chinatown–International District, Seattle|Chinatown-International District]] (CID) neighborhood. This led her to clash with activists like [[Bob Santos (activist)|Bob Santos]], who viewed the "International District" identity as a collaboration across different Asian American communities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chesley |first=Frank |date=April 20, 2009 |title=Santos, Robert "Bob" Nicholas (1934-2016) |url=https://www.historylink.org/file/8989 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=[[HistoryLink]]}}</ref>

In 1979, Spellman proposed to remodel the [[U.S. Immigrant Station and Assay Office|U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Building]], located near the CID, into a work-release facility for up to 300 people. Chow visited Senator [[Warren Magnuson]] in Washington D.C. to lobby against the change on behalf of CID residents, who were upset that undesirably-viewed facilities were planned near their neighborhood. Her trip received major press attention and the proposal was discarded.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chesley |first=Frank |date=April 24, 2009 |title=Local investors buy Seattle's historic Immigration and Naturalization |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8991 |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=[[HistoryLink]]}}</ref>

Chow mentored local politicians like [[Gary Locke]] and Ron Sims.<ref name=":7" />

== Honors ==
The county council named Ruby Chow Park, at the corner of S. Albro Place and 13th Avenue S. near [[Boeing Field]], after Chow in 1985.<ref name="chowpark">{{cite press release |date=June 4, 2008 |title=Council expresses condolences on the passing of former King County Councilmember Ruby Chow |url=http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2008/June/chow.aspx |publisher=Metropolitan King County Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108061039/http://www.kingcounty.gov/council/news/2008/June/chow.aspx |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |accessdate=October 19, 2014}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004458523_rubychow05m.html|title= Ruby Chow, first Asian American on King County Council, dead at 87|last=Eskenazi|first=Stuart|date=June 5, 2008|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203220003/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004458523_rubychow05m.html|archive-date=December 3, 2008|accessdate=July 16, 2008}}</ref> The 8th floor of the [[King County Administration Building]] is also named after Chow.<ref name=":7" />

The [[Wing Luke Museum]] has a Ping and Ruby Chow & Family Gathering Space and Learning Studio dedicated to the Chows.<ref name=":7" />

==Personal life==
Chow had two sons with her first husband. Her second husband was Edward Shui "Ping" Chow (November 5, 1916 - June 29, 2011), who received U.S. citizenship after he was discharged from United States Army. Chow had five children. Chow's children are Edward Chow Jr, Shelton Chow, [[Cheryl Chow]], Brien Chow, and Mark Chow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?pid=152442853| title=Legacy.com Edward Shui "Ping" Chow | website=[[Legacy.com]] |accessdate= November 23, 2016}}</ref>

Chow's daughter, [[Cheryl Chow]], served as a member of the [[Seattle City Council]] from 1990 to 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2012/08/22/cheryl-chow-comes-out-while-dying-of-brain-cancer|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|title=Cheryl Chow comes out while dying of brain cancer|accessdate=October 19, 2014}}</ref>
Chow's son, Mark Chow, is a judge in King County District Court in Washington. He is the first Asian-American in the State of Washington to win election as a judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/district-court/locations/chow.aspx | title= ''Judge Mark Chow, West Division'' kingcounty.gov |accessdate= December 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.judgemarkchow.com/about/ | title= ''Meet Judge Mark Chow'' judgemarkchow.com |accessdate= December 30, 2016}}</ref>

Chow's niece, [[Angie Mar]], is the chef/owner of The Beatrice Inn in Manhattan's West Village.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/dining/angie-mar-chef-beatrice-inn.html| title= ''Angie Mar's Menu: Red Meat and Respect'' | work= The New York Times | date= January 9, 2018 |accessdate= January 9, 2018 | last1= Rao | first1= Tejal }}</ref>

===Death===
Chow died on June 4, 2008, aged 87, from heart failure in Seattle. Chow was survived by her five children and her husband, Edward Shui "Ping" Chow.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nwasianweekly.com/old/2008270025/chow20082725.htm|title=A remembrance of Ruby Chow's extraordinary life|last=Lau|first=Betty|date=June 14, 2008|work=[[Northwest Asian Weekly]]|accessdate=August 15, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203202840/http://www.nwasianweekly.com/old/2008270025/chow20082725.htm|archivedate=December 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/366642_chow12.html|title=Hundreds pay final respects to Ruby Chow|last=Wong|first=Brad|date=June 11, 2008|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|accessdate=July 16, 2008}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{C-SPAN|60670}}
*{{cite news |last=Clement |first=Bethany Jean |title=Women who ran Seattle: Ruby Chow, restaurateur, civic activist and first Asian American elected to King County Council |newspaper=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/women-who-ran-seattle-ruby-chow/ |date=March 1, 2022 |ref=none}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chow, Ruby}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century Washington (state) politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:American politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:American women restaurateurs]]
[[Category:American restaurateurs]]
[[Category:American women of Chinese descent in politics]]
[[Category:Asian-American people in Washington (state) politics]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Seattle]]
[[Category:King County Councillors]]
[[Category:Politicians from Seattle]]
[[Category:Washington (state) Democrats]]
[[Category:Women in Washington (state) politics]]

Ruby Chow - Revision history

imported>Hobbitina: /* Ruby Chow's Restaurant */ clarify agreement