2 longtime Chinatown businesses close to make way for new hotel, sparking debate on heritage and progress

Two longtime Asian-owned businesses in D.C.’s Chinatown officially shuttered their doors Tuesday, marking another chapter in the neighborhood's ongoing transformation. Full Kee Restaurant, a fixture for 40 years, and Gao Ya salon on H Street NW, were ordered to vacate by July 1 to make way for a new Marriott hotel.

The closures come as part of a redevelopment plan led by the building’s longtime owner, Eddie Moy, in partnership with local developer Rift Valley. Moy, whose family has been rooted in Chinatown for decades, previously told WUSA9 that the businesses had long been aware of the eventual transition.

"I've been doing this all my life," Moy said. "I just want to move on."

However, the departure of these establishments has reignited concern among community advocates, who argue the district’s few remaining Asian American businesses, now down to just nine, are facing revitalization efforts that favor luxury development.

“They’re really prematurely vacating commercial tenants,” said Shani Shih, founder of the Save Chinatown Solidarity Network. “These businesses are cornerstones of the community. This brings us down to nine legacy businesses left in Chinatown.”

Shih and her group have called for stronger protections and support for small, culturally significant businesses. They’ve pushed for a community benefits agreement requiring developers to include anti-displacement provisions, preserve cultural identity, and prioritize mom-and-pop vendors instead of large retailers.

“Things like this will only continue the erasure of our community,” Shih added. “There’s no preservation or anti-displacement mechanism currently in the budget. Council must take a stand to ensure equity and belonging in D.C.”

Shih and her team gathered outside the John Wilson Building to hand out flyers in opposition to the hotel. She says D.C.'s downtown tax abatement program disproportionately favors developers converting offices into luxury spaces. She argues reforms must mandate deeper affordability. To her, 10% affordable housing is “not enough” and it lacks cultural preservation requirements.

Meanwhile, not everyone sees the redevelopment as a threat.

Ted Gong, executive director of the 1882 Foundation, supports the hotel project. His organization, which promotes awareness of the Chinese Exclusion Act and Chinatown history, is working with the developers to ensure cultural representation is incorporated into the design.

“To think you can preserve Chinatown as it was 10 or 30 years ago isn’t realistic,” Gong said. “The city evolves, and the neighborhood has to evolve with it.”

Still, Gong emphasizes the importance of retaining community spirit and shared history.

“It’s about ensuring people can come here and feel connected to their heritage—through spaces, stories, and traditions like the Chinatown parade," he added.

While the hotel’s developers were not available to speak with WUSA9 on camera, a Rift Valley managing partner said the company aims to create more than a commercial property adorned with Chinese symbols. Instead, they want to help tell the story of Chinatown—through architecture, interior design and programming.

Preliminary designs are still pending approval. Permits and financing are in progress, with the goal of breaking ground by this November or December.