Longest continually run Chinese business in North America gets a new owner, preserving bragging rights

In the oldest Chinatown in the entire country sits Loy Sing, a business that holds the title of longest continually run Chinese business in North America. It has now been in operation for 136 years and counting.

In the oldest Chinatown in the entire country sits Loy Sing, a business that holds the title of longest continually run Chinese business in North America. It has now been in operation for 136 years and counting.

Recently, Charlayne Thorton-Joe with the Chinese Canadian Museum has been getting nervous. The reason being the long streak could come to an end.

"The owners that have been here for decades are wanting to retire,” said Thorton-Joe.

That owner is Daniel Zheng and his family, who now want to call it a career after owning the business for the past 29 years.

Last year Zheng put the business up for sale. If it were to get purchased and the business model and name changed, that would mean the end of its title.

With bragging rights on the line, it turns out a saviour was working only two doors away at Kwong Tung Seafood Restaurant as a delivery driver and receiver. Zhen Zeng and his wife Qiu Heu are now the proud owners of Loy Sing, and the pair plans to run the historic restaurant the same way it’s been run for the past 136 years.

With a menu that has changed very little in all those years, the pair knows there is going to be a steep learning curve.