Chinatown reassessing its neighborhood and future [Video]

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — In Philadelphia’s Chinatown section, business owners are reassessing the neighborhood and their future. It comes after the Sixers announced they would not build an arena in nearby Market East.

Chinatown continues to face big challenges: less foot traffic since the pandemic, many residents moving to the suburbs and fewer international students to fuel the neighborhood’s economy.

So now some, including Dan Tsao, are looking inward in hopes of breathing fresh air into their own neighborhood.

Chinatown’s first Hong Kong-style cafe, Ting’sTing’s, is the brainchild of Dan Tsao. He took over the space from the previous owners at their request.

“The business had been struggling,” he said. “They were only busy for a few months and then the pandemic hits.”

That eatery never recovered but Tsao turned the location into a bustling restaurant, serving up comfort food with a creative twist. TingTing’s Cafe is Tsao’s second restaurant. His first is EMei, which regularly has lines …