Fong Wan - Oakland

1938

Fong Wan (May 11, 1883 – May 25, 1968) was an herbalist who sold Chinese herbs to people of all backgrounds. He also owned restaurants and nightclubs in Oakland and San Francisco, and the Lakeside Hotel. ^4,8

While his name appears occasionally in news stories, it appears frequently in short treatises combined with ads, like Water Chestnuts - A Short Treatise by Fong Wan and countless times in ads.

Family

1949 ⁴

Fong was born in Guangdong province in China, the "number 2 son" of 9 children. After a visit to Japan, his father paid his way to San Francisco to live with an uncle. "Fong, at 17, arrived in San Francisco with $10 and a long queue. He soon got rid of the last item but was never to be greatly concerned about the first." ²

He was married 4 times; the Tribune recounted details of the trial for his third divorce in 1956. He had been married to Helen Fong for 31 years. He had 11 children, all born in Oakland, 8 of them with Helen. ^3,6,7,9

Dr. Richard R. Fong - b. November 13, 1911
Dr. Edward E. Fong - b. December 1, 1920
Evelyn Fong - b. May 19, 1922
Stanley S. Fong - b. July 11, 1926
Sidney S. Fong - b. August 28, 1930
Luther L. Fong - b. October 4, 1932
Willard W. Fong - b. July 10, 1934
Juanita Fong - b. August 30, 1936
Allan A. Fong - b. April 24, 1942
Calvin Fong - b. November 27, 1944
Victor Fong - b. January 17, 1946

The family lived in the same building as Fong's herb business.

Businesses

Fong Wan Herb Co. in Oakland started about 1915, and was originally at 548 - 8th Street. In 1924, he moved the shop and the family to the distinctive building at 576 - 10th Street.

548 - 8th St. 1923

Fong's herb business was investigated and tried by state and federal officials for his advertising claims for his herbs, but he was never convicted. Satisfied customers testified on his behalf in a 1932 trial. Some of his later advertisements would detail attacks by the federal government on his herbal practice. In 1936, he gave away free dishes at his restaurant in celebration of the 4th anniversary of his federal court win.

"Wan parlayed his herbal profits into real estate, nightclubs and restaurants." ¹ In San Francisco, he owned the Club Shanghai and Chinese Cellar. In Oakland, he owned the Club Oakland and Nanking Cafe. "He pays nightly visits to his Club Shanghai and Club Oakland, chauffeured in either his 1948 Packard or 1949 Buick by Elmo, a young man who said Fong cured him of a serious disease." ²

In addition to the herbal business and the nightclubs and cafes, Fong was also an owner of the Oakland Emporium, a dry goods store. He was part owner, then in 1929, became the majority owner.

In 1934, Fong started the Fong Wan Shrimp Company in Richmond. ⁷ In 1936, he bought the property at 311 Broadway to clean the shrimp and act as a wholesale distributor.

576 - 10th Street. CC SA-BY Our Oakland1924 ad1936 ad