To many, Chinatown doesn't necessarily have a good or bad reputation– it's just off their radar completely. When we tell people our office is in Chinatown, we're often met with slightly confused responses. In a way, that's what makes it so great; to the residents, businesses, artists, or anyone else that calls it home– it feels like your own little slice of LA. There's nothing normal about it, and its hard to compare to anywhere else. Most people are surprised to learn that it's home to some of LA's most notable design studios, artists, and musicians, with a constant influx of great food and drink destinations. The pairing of Chinatown's rich history with a surging arts and food culture is what makes it unique.
Well, this isn't really about Realm, but about what it used to be– Hong Kong Cafe. Even though its long gone, we figured we'd write about it since it's pretty cool. Located within the Old Chinatown Central Plaza, this space hosted some of LA's first punk shows in the late 70's/early 80's. Bands like Black Flag, Germs, The Circle Jerks, and X would play here. Although it's just a gift shop now, it's great to walk in and think about what it may have been like to stand there almost 40 years ago.
