23. LEW FAMILY


This photo of CHICK LEW, wife JEAN, and their children – DIANE, NANCY, & GEORGE – represents how I remember them. I don’t know the year of this photo but this is about when we kids played together in spite of me being older.

It was a treat when my mother brought me to visit them as their house was the kind of house I saw in books and on TV. Their home was not in Chinatown: thereby, western and exotic.

At the same time, I think our visits were infrequent, brief and formal as there was a long-standing rift between the families. My father and Chick’s father, FRANK LEW, had been in business together at the New World Café (Post #14) and had had a falling out. What it was about I never knew.



FRANK LEW (b.1888, d.1973) immigrated to Canada in 1918. According to an article in the Niagara Falls Gazette (January 8, 1967), Frank Lew worked in different cities at various jobs. His wife, JIN SWE LEW (b.1893, d.1968) and sons (Jack and Chick) came to Canada some time after World War II.

JACK LEW (b.1922) predeceased his wife, YUN KING SHUI, in 1993.

I last saw Chick back in February 2012 at my brother’s funeral. Chick passed away in June 2017. From photos posted online, the pleasure he took in his family and life are evident.


In addition, Chick Lew’s two successive restaurants – Rose Garden & Jade Garden – became hallmarks of the ever-growing appeal of Chinese food in Niagara Falls.















Rose Garden Restaurant,
4880 Victoria Avenue





Jade Garden Restaurant
5306 Victoria Avenue


Pictured from left to right are the Lews: David, George, Jean, Frank, Chick and Susie.

DAVID LEW, Chick Lew’s nephew was a partner in the Jade Garden Restaurant.

SUSIE LEW met her husband, David, while he was vacationing in Hong Kong. She immigrated in about 1963.

The Jade Garden attracted many customers with its buffet: “Seek Gee Butjun” meaning “Eat. Never Stop.”

The Jade Garden was a big employer and like many other Chinese restaurants provided work for those starting out, including students.

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