"There's nothing really authentic here. I'm kind of tired of the buffet already." In the early 1990s, Henry Hwang, recent emigrant from Taiwan, listened as his Los Angeles neighbors returned from gambling trips to Las Vegas and complained that they could find no good Chinese restaurants in the Entertainment Capital of the World. They continued to visit Las Vegas, but after two or three days they grew tired of buffet dining and searched in vain for a place to enjoy a good Chinese meal. Having been a businessman in Taiwan, Hwang recognized an opportunity. He envisioned creating a space in Las Vegas that would serve tourists and the local Asian population alike. It would have not only good Chinese restaurants, but it would also have top-brand Asian supermarkets. With his wife and two partners, Hwang set about to realize his vision. In this interview, Henry and his daughter, Sharon Hwang, talk about their lives in Taiwan and beginning anew in Las Vegas. They talk about Henry’s search for the right parcel in a good location and about working with the architect to create a center true to Tang dynasty architecture and symbolism. They also share the story of the Journey to the West as the cultural strength of the center and have held annual Chinese New Year celebrations to teach Chinese culture for 23 years. The elements of location, architecture, and culture combined to grow Chinatown Mall beyond Henry’s original idea and inspired other Asian businesses to locate nearby. West Spring Mountain Road became a bustling pan-Asian district that caters to many local and tourist communities as well as to Las Vegas’s hospitality industry. In 1996 Clark County officially designated the area as Chinatown District, and in 1999, Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn officially named as Chinatown the three-mile stretch of Spring Mountain Road from Las Vegas Boulevard to Rainbow Boulevard. Henry also shares his reasons for leaving Taiwan and pursuing life in Las Vegas. He, his wife, and one of the original partners still own Chinatown Mall, but Henry has ceded its operation to Sharon, who oversees and nurtures the Mall’s cultural and financial pillars equally. Sharon talks about the difficulty of entering Durango High School as a new immigrant and her wonderment at the give-and-take of classroom discussions. A member of Durango’s first graduating class, she recalls her time at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she earned her B.A. degree in business administration in 1999. Sharon is proud of her father and mentor—his innovative thinking, business vision, and strong work ethic—and she is delighted to call Las Vegas home.

Newsletter issued by the Las Vegas Rotary Club