In 1927, Fong Wan took over the Old Republic Cafe, located at 425 

 Tenth Street, Oakland. He reorganized it into the New Shanghai Cafe, 

 a beautiful and sanitary place to eat. Under his able direction, the 

 New Shanghai has become one of the best paying cafes in the Bay 

 Cities. 



THE HOME OF THE FONG WAN COMPANY 



In order to properly house his ever-increasing business, Fong Wan 

 planned and designed a building that should be both adequate and emi- 

 nently suited to his needs. About eight months were required for the 

 erection of the structure, and on June 27, 1924, Fong Wan took posses- 

 sion of the handsome, reinforced concrete building at 576-578 Tenth 

 Street, Oakland, California, in which Oriental and Occidental design 

 are so artistically combined as to constitute a monument to his genius. 



The building is beautifully furnished. The roof is designed as a 

 playground for his children, the entire upper floor with its spacious 

 Oriental veranda, is the family residence, the first floor is devoted 

 exclusively to the herb business, while the large, airy basement pro- 

 vides ample room for the receipt of herb shipments. On the first floor 

 there is a cheerful reception room with a soft Oriental rug, heavy 

 teakwood furniture, works of art, and an attractive showcase in which 

 various kinds of herbs are exhibited. Among the other rooms on this 

 floor are the quiet office where any person may consult the herbalist 

 regarding his or her health without charge or obligation; the well- 

 ordered herb room, with its hundreds of varieties of herbs each in its 

 special compartment; the sanitary kitchen with its dozen gas plates 

 and its shining pots in which nothing but herbs are ever cooked; and 

 the alluring tea room in which the herb tea is served on unique little 

 Chinese tables. 



This mansion has no duplicate anywhere in the United States. One 

 of the attendants shows visitors around. Thousands of Americans have 

 already availed themselves of the opportunity of going through the 

 building and enjoying not only the beauty of its furnishings, but of 

 its design and interior finish as well. These admiring visitors have 

 named it "The Palace." In 1925, when an Anti-Herb Bill was intro- 

 duced into the State Assembly, Fong Wan went to Sacramento and 

 through the arguments and facts that he presented, was instrumental 

 in having the bill withdrawn. At that time, the people of California, 

 through the medium of the press, acclaimed him "King of the Herbal- 



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