Displaced Chinatown merchants receive emergency funds

San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development announced on Thursday the issuance of emergency funds to seven businesses displaced by a two-alarm fire in Chinatown on Feb. 3.

City officials said a total of $70,000 of funds will go toward the businesses to help pay for damaged inventory and equipment, security deposits for new leases, employee salaries and other expenses.

Director Todd Rufo of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, said in a statement that Mayor Ed Lee told his office to activate the Small Business Relief Fund following the fire:

“The funds will help all seven small businesses and their employees in the next steps toward their recovery.”

Officials said the fire affected 22 employees, which occurred at 1199 Stockton St. The following seven businesses applied and received up to $10,000 from the fund:

• SF Poultry #2
• Tan Store
• Kwong Cheong Tai
• Tan Tan Trading Company
• Bay Area Holiday
• Chong Hing Company
• Pacific Street Fish Market

Jason Li, owner of  Kwong Cheong Tai, said in a statement:

“After receiving the Disaster Relief Fund, I will first pay off the wages we owe our employees so as to stabilize their income and reduce the impact brought by the incident.”

Li added that the rest of money will go toward to re-establish the company.

The Small Business Relief Fund is an assistance resource package for small businesses following a disaster. Officials created the fund following a fire on Mission at 22nd streets in 2015.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.