Like many businesses in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Sun Vin market on Mulberry Street is still bouncing back from pandemic losses. Manager Jasmine Bai says things are looking up after some tough times when sales dropped 40%.

“I think that we’re going to be better, that is true because I have a confidence that we’re going to be better,” Bai said.

What You Need To Know

  • From Chinatown, With Love is a collaboration between the Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Arts Center and the arts and advocacy organization, the W.O.W. Project

  • The program includes the distribution of traditional red envelopes, made by artists, to Chinatown businesses to help boost sales

  • This is the sixth year for the program, part of a celebration of Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Wood Snake 

Sun Vin is one of 25 participating business in the From Chinatown, With Love initiative. It’s a collaboration between the Henry Street Settlement’s Abrons Arts Center and the W.O.W. Project, an arts and advocacy organization.

The program includes the distribution of traditional red envelopes for gift giving, created by artists, to small businesses in Chinatown to help boost sales. Shoppers are asked to spend $35 or more at participating stores to receive the items. A tapestry calendar with items from the businesses is also available online to help the effort.

W.O.W. Project is based at the Wing On Wo porcelain store, which has been in Chinatown since the 1890s. Mei Lum is a fifth generation owner of the shop on Mott Street, and director of the W.O.W. Project.

“A lot of them are long time businesses here in Chinatown and that really is at the heart of what we’re doing, trying to continue to support legacy businesses here in the neighborhood,” Lum said.

There is also an exhibition celebrating the project at Abrons, coinciding with the promotion. There are posters featuring the participating businesses with stories from their owners, plus a chance to decorate your own red envelopes, too.

“In a time like this that is super celebratory, the idea came about to really honor the fact that Manhattan’s Chinatown is such an important site for entrepreneurship and to support that directly during the holidays,” Ali Rosa-Salas, vice president of Visual and Performing Arts at Abrons, said.

Another participating business is Kopitiam, a Malaysian restaurant on East Broadway. Owner and chef Kyo Pang says the program has delivered a boost during unpredictable times.

“This is pretty much like a mom and pop store, so being part of the program makes us feel like we are part of the family,” Pang said.

Pang says running a business these days is a roller coaster, but hopefully this year will be better.