"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.

Growing up in Las Vegas, Myram Borders remained in Nevada most of her life. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Nevada Reno. An internship with United Press International wire service would place her on a career path that included working in Reno, Los Angeles, and then brought her back to Las Vegas in 1965. Her journalism experience with UPI created a foundation for unique insights about living in Las Vegas and the effect gaming had on the world's perceptions of Las Vegas newsworthiness. After her long career with UPI, Myram also worked briefly for Gannett and then became commissioner of Consumer Affairs under Gov. Bob Miller, which she admits was not her favorite work. Her next step was to head up of the Las Vegas News Bureau. As one might expect, Myram has stories about the stories she covered. She recalls how by sheer accident she came upon the scene of Lefty Rosenthal's car being blown up in a parking lot. She explains how a light system was put atop the El Cortez Hotel to signal whether workers were to show up for work at the test site. She covered the first woman dealer in Las Vegas and scooped other reporters to announce Elvis' wedding at the Aladdin.

John Foley is the youngest of five sons bora to Roger T. and Helen Foley. John's grandfather, Thomas L. Foley was an early transplant to Nevada when he headed for Goldfield in 1907. By 1910 Grandfather Foley had persuaded his son Roger T. to move west - it was a boom time. Roger who was finishing law school in Chicago passed both the Nevada and California bar exams in 1911. Two years later he married Helen who he knew from Chicago and with that launch a legal dynasty in southern Nevada: Roger, Thomas, George, Joseph and John. Each son would enjoy participating successfully in the history of Las Vegas. In this series of interviews, John shares his personal accomplishments as well as mentions his brothers contributions and service to the community. He talks about being young men, his brothers going off to war, the part-time jobs made available by the ever changing landscape of the area, new jobs and growth. He attended Fifth Street Elementary School and Las Vegas High School, actively encouraged the creation of the Boyd Law School at UNLV, and was elected a Nevada State Senator among many other activities as well as being father to his six children. John witnessed Las Vegas outgrowing its "little sister to Reno" role and now enjoys bragging that a fourth generation of Foleys lives in Las Vegas, many of whom carry on the family tradition of being lawyers.