Then & Now: Ewa Trading
Mr. Zhou, behind the store counter (Credit: Derick Marquez Photography)
Ewa Trading
80 Mulberry St
Zhou Rui Xian (周瑞賢 ) who, with his wife, owns and runs Ewa Trading Company, a tea and Chinese medicine and herbs shop. All sorts of people, from Chinatown and beyond, depend on Mr. Zhou’s business to support their health and well-being. Customers can buy goods including fish stomach, red dates, ginseng, and astragalus root (北芪), which they can use to make soups to help with overall respiratory and circulatory health.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhou have been running Ewa Trading for over 20 years. They took over the business from the original owner, who founded it in 1984 at 24 Mott Street. Mrs. Zhou got her start at Ewa Trading when she immigrated to the United States in the 1980s. Mr. Zhou came to the United States in 1991 and started working at the shop in 1997.
In April 2022, a devastating fire at 78 Mulberry St claimed the lives of two residents, displaced others, and temporarily closed K.K. Discount and Ewa Trading. The shop was temporarily closed for four months before reopening its doors to the Chinatown community.
What is an element of the Chinatown legacy/spirit you hope we never lose?
I hope that Chinatown in New York will develop and expand forever. The problem is that the traditional industries of the Chinese people have been disappearing for more than a decade, and the population is aging and outflowing. It is very hard for the younger generation to take over some of the more traditional industries like my line of work that require deep knowledge of Chinese language, medicinal properties, and philosophy. One element of Chinatown's legacy and spirit that I hope to never lose is the hard work, strength, and discipline the community has put in to support and stand up their own businesses.
The original Ewa Trading was located at 24 Mott Street. The pictures above were taken in the 1980s. Ewa Trading is currently located at 80 Mulberry Street.
Why is it important to you to continue serving the Chinatown community? Where do you see your business in 10 years?
Because my industry can help customers solve their health and wellness problems and make customers happy, I regard it as a treasure. I hope that ten or twenty years from now, this industry will continue to be passed on to serve the community.
What gives you hope for the future of Chinatown?
Organizations like Welcome to Chinatown give me hope for the future of Chinatown, preserving history and legacy, and making Chinatown more prosperous and lively.
If you’d like to support Ewa Trading, stop by at 80 Mulberry Street for herbs, tea, and more! You can read their business spotlight here.
Chinatown establishments like Ewa Trading are what makes the spirit of our neighborhood. Please consider making a donation to our small business relief fund, The Longevity Fund, or help us spread the word of what’s at stake. Together, we can preserve Chinatown businesses and help ensure Chinatown will always be open for business.
