A longtime Chinatown meat market could be in trouble now that New York’s moratorium on evictions has lifted.
According to Eater New York, 47 Division Street Trading Inc. is one of Chinatown’s oldest meat markets. The market is run by the Li family and has been open since 1995. Known for its affordable prices, it is a staple in the community.
Now the community is hoping to raise over $150,000 on GoFundMe to help the market avoid eviction.
Jefferson Li and an organization called Send Chinatown Love started the GoFundMe campaign three days ago. According to a post on the campaign’s page, the Lis were notified that they needed to pay $289,000 or risk eviction.
The campaign page says that the family is currently in the middle of court proceedings with their landlord to keep the business alive. However, those proceedings have been “unpromising” so far. The Li family has struggled to work with their landlord over the past few years when the pandemic forced their market to temporarily shut down.
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The business is owned by Peter who learned about the butchering trade in China. He moved to America with his wife to start a better life. Eventually, he owned 47 Division Street Trading Inc.
His son Jefferson has helped the family maintain the business, especially during the pandemic. His post on Reddit offering meat at affordable prices went viral in 2020. He was eventually profiled in The Wall Street Journal.
Although they struggled to maintain their own business, the Li family also worked with Send Chinatown Love (SCL) on multiple Gift-a-Meal initiatives, which helped provide meals to communities in need during the pandemic.
According to the GoFundMe page, the final amount owed is unknown. The campaign organizers hope to raise $150,000. As of today $58,040 have been raised.
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