Tuck Hing Food Market, nestled in Philadelphia's Chinatown, stands as a testament to enduring community spirit and cultural heritage. As the oldest grocery store in the neighborhood, it served generations of families and anchoring the local community.
This project with its many phases was a labour of love for two decades, as I embarked on the restoration of this iconic corner store. The project involved revitalizing the retail space while integrating three levels of multi-family units above it, aiming to preserve the building's historical character while adapting it for contemporary use.
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SITE
218 N 10th Street , Philadelphia PA
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DATES
2016 - Design Completion
2017- Construction Completion
ARCHITECTURE
Dan Chong, Principal (Blackletter)
Private Owner, Client​
DESCRIPTION
Personal reflection: Every Sunday after church, my family and I would visit Tuck Hing. My children delighted in selecting their favorite snacks, picking up packages of Yugioh cards, creating memories intertwined with the aroma of dried herbs and the vibrant displays of produce. These visits reinforced the importance of our restoration work; not just preserving a structure but safeguarding a space of shared experiences and cultural continuity.
Reflecting on this work, I think of John Ruskin's assertion in 1868: "There is no wealth but life." This idea underpins the very ethos of reuse, reduce, and recycle; principles that are essential for architectural sustainability today. This project also aligns most closely with Ruskin's "Lamp of Memory," emphasizing our duty to preserve the cultural and architectural legacies entrusted to us.
Today, Tuck Hing continues to serve the community, its shelves stocked with familiar favorites and new discoveries. The building's restored façade and renovated residential units above contribute to the neighborhood's vibrancy, ensuring that this cornerstone of community life endures and enriches future generations.
