In the early years of Chinatown, there were limited job opportunities for Chinese residents. And in some key professions – such as law, medicine and engineering – Chinese were mostly banned from practicing. With few options, some individuals and families cobbled together small amounts of capital to start their own businesses, offering whatever skills they had. It was common to find on these streets tailor shops, hand laundries, green grocers, and restaurants.
早期居住在唐人街的華人只有少量的工作機會。華人被禁止從事法律、醫學和工程等專業。在幾乎沒有選擇的環境下，人們便拼湊起少量資金成立生意，開設裁縫店、洗衣店、果菜雜貨店和餐館。
Photo: City of Vancouver Archives Bu P3.1