Business Supporting Business: Soft Swerve + S Wan Cafe
Part 2 of our 3-part mini stories series, “Business Supporting Business,” where we speak with local Chinatown business owners about their favorite Chinatown spots. Through our work, we learned of so many incredible stories from small business owners in the neighborhood where a common theme across the board illustrated the community’s shared love, support and camaraderie for each other. Many of Chinatown’s small business owners are also patrons of the neighborhood, whether it be a place where they grab a bite to eat mid-shift or for family dinner on special occasions.
Stay tuned for more stories! Special thanks to Steven Yen Photography for these photos.
Soft Swerve Supporting S Wan Cafe
S Wan isn’t really open at night but the owner’s son was willing to open it up for Jason Liu, co-owner of Soft Swerve (they also conveniently live above the store). S Wan is owned by the father and he loves getting photographed. The son is a teacher in Brooklyn and during this interview, he was talking about the struggles of reopening schools.
S Wan is such a hole in the wall. One of the reasons Jason wanted to photograph this place was because they want to make sure this place survives. We spoke with Jason about his connection to S Wan and how local businesses like this has impacted his life:
What is the significance of S Wan Cafe to you?
“S Wan cafe has served the community since I was a kid growing up in the neighborhood. It’s the staple HK style breakfast and lunch spot that serves the community; it has inexpensively priced food that is both delicious and quick. The cafe has significance to me because it has been one of my go to lunch spots from me growing up in the neighborhood and while I was establishing a business in the neighborhood.”
What do you love most about S Wan Cafe?
“The food and the ambience. I always feel a sense of community when I come here. You will find locals here both young and old. It is truly a reflection of the neighborhood.”
What should people order when they eat at the restaurant?
“Any of the breakfast combos posted on a large banner. My favorite lunch dish will always be the chicken & mushroom stir-fry spaghetti but do not forget to order a drink. They have one of the best Hong Kong Style Milk Tea or the Ying Yeung (half coffee, half milk tea) that you will find in NYC.”
About the business:
S Wan Cafe Inc, established in 2006 is a family run Hong Kong style cafe. The owners Sandy and Alex purchased this from the previous owners after being customers themselves for years. Both of them grew up in Hong Kong and want to provide similar vibes and food to the local community.
