Historic Preservation

Phoenix, developer work to find solution to potential historic building

Site belonged to family of Arizona’s first Chinese American legislator

The building at 1617 E. Thomas Road served as a Chinese food restaurant called Wing’s run by the Ong family from 1955 to 1974 along with Wing F. Ong’s law office on the second floor above the restaurant. The building is now vacant but has most recently been used as a TitleMax office.

(Courtesy city of Phoenix)

The Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission is trying to find a way to preserve a building linked to Arizona State Legislator Wing F. Ong, the first Chinese American to serve in any state legislature.

The trouble is striking a balance between preserving the building and finding a profitable use for it.

Wing F. Ong

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