Sing Hai Chop Suey House, longtime Downtown Phoenix restaurant, closed in 2018

Sing Hai Chop Suey House, a Chinese restaurant that opened in Downtown Phoenix's Chinatown in 1928 and served as a community gathering place for decades, closed in 2018, a commenter told the meeting.

The commenter said the restaurant’s founder, Fred Lee, intended to name it Shanghai Chop Suey House but a signmaker produced the name Sing Hai, creating a long-standing naming confusion. "There was a mix up between Fred Lee, who opened the restaurant in 1928, and the signmaker," the commenter said. "The signmaker thought Fred had said, Singhae, when in fact, Fred was wanting the restaurant to be named Shanghai Chop Suey House."

The speaker described the restaurant as "much more than a Chinese restaurant," calling it a community gathering place that drew both Chinese and non-Chinese patrons. The commenter cited well-known Arizonans Rose Mofford and John McCain as regulars. The transcript account said the restaurant moved several times within downtown Phoenix because of urban development before closing in 2018; no related actions or decisions were taken at the meeting.

No funding, policy changes or official city actions related to the restaurant were discussed during the meeting. The commenter closed by saying the restaurant’s traditions and legacy continue to matter to many Phoenicians.