Tommy Ly, owner of the GeekEasy Anime Café, has defied expectations by choosing to open his establishment in the challenging neighborhood of Old Town/Chinatown in Portland. Critics warned him that this decision would lead to financial ruin and emotional distress, highlighting the area’s struggles with crime and social issues. Yet, Ly views Old Town as more than just a troubled district; he sees it as a complex tapestry of history and resilience.
Old Town/Chinatown has faced substantial challenges over the years. Once a thriving Japantown, it was nearly erased during World War II when Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to internment camps. Today, the neighborhood bears the scars of neglect and gentrification, leaving behind a community that still fights to maintain its identity.
Ly opens his café each morning, sometimes stepping over individuals in need outside his door. “You pause. You check for breathing,” he reflects, acknowledging the harsh realities of his environment. While many might seek safer, cleaner, and more profitable locations, Ly feels a moral obligation to remain in a neighborhood that is often dismissed as lost.
Old Town/Chinatown is not merely a relic of the past; it is home to various businesses that have chosen to stay. From the Black-owned establishments to LGBTQ+ spaces, the area continues to foster a sense of belonging amid its challenges. Ly’s café is one of the few remaining Asian-owned businesses in an area that still identifies as Chinatown, a fact that carries significant weight for him.
Despite knowing the financial risks — margins in the food industry can be razor-thin — Ly felt compelled to act. “I couldn’t stomach doing nothing,” he admits. His intention was never to save Old Town/Chinatown; he recognizes that coffee alone cannot rectify systemic failures or decades of disinvestment. Instead, he aims to be a part of the community, offering a space where people feel welcome.
Ly’s daily routine consists of serving food and coffee while connecting with regulars who may have limited options for gathering places. Some days feel futile; others, unsafe. Yet he maintains that neighborhoods do not disappear overnight. They fade away when individuals choose to abandon them.
Old Town/Chinatown requires more than saviors; it needs committed individuals willing to invest their time and energy in its revival. As Ly puts it, “It needs witnesses—people who refuse to let history fade quietly.” His commitment to the neighborhood signifies a larger conversation about community and resilience in the face of adversity.
While the future of the GeekEasy Anime Café remains uncertain, Ly is steadfast in his belief that he cannot simply watch a neighborhood die without doing anything to help. His resolve serves as a reminder that every small action contributes to the fabric of a community, regardless of its challenges.
