Chinese American History Meets Foodie Culture at Nom Wah Tea Parlor

The story of Nom Wah Tea Parlor in New York’s Chinatown neighborhood is very much a history of the city itself. Opened in the early 1900s on Doyers Street, Nom Wah sits on one of the first blocks of the then-newly-emerging Chinese community in Manhattan. In its 90-year history as New York’s oldest dim sum restaurant, Nom Wah has moved from local meeting place to storied eatery. Today, Wilson Tang, the latest generation of the family that has operated Nom Wah since the 1970s, keeps the business growing by keeping it simple and staying true to the restaurant’s traditional roots. Though Wilson has successfully brought the 20th century restaurant into the 21st by embracing platforms like Facebook and Instagram, Nom Wah’s principles have always rested on ideas like “locally-sourced” which now define some of the most celebrated food purveyors in the city, and have positioned the establishment for continued success into the future.

Wilson’s story of bringing Nom Wah into the present by embracing new technology while staying true to tradition mirrors the story of the Converse Chuck Taylor II. The new, weatherized Shield Canvas Chuck II amplifies the iconic Chuck Taylor silhouette with water-repellent canvas and reflective details to help it stand up to the trails of the city be it puddles, a rainstorm, or even a Chinatown fish market. Check out the video above to see Wilson rocking both the Chuck II Shield Canvas as he ventures into the crowded streets of downtown Manhattan to pick up produce before switching to the classic Chuck Taylor II to meet his customers opening Nom Wah for the day. Grab a pair of the sneakers on the Converse website and stay tuned for more videos featuring the CT II being put to the test. Also, for more information on the NYC landmark, hit up Nom Wah’s official website.