Jade Garden, a 23-year-old dim sum staple in Seattle, is reeling from its fourth vandalism incident since 2020 after its front door was shattered on Mother’s Day.
SEATTLE — A restaurant institution in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District is dealing with costly damage after vandals shattered its front door on one of the busiest days of the year.
Burglars targeted Jade Garden, a dim sum staple that has served the neighborhood for more than two decades, early Sunday morning on Mother’s Day. The broken glass left behind not only a physical mess, but what the owner described as an emotional and financial blow.
“This is the family jewel for us. It means everything for us,” said manager Eric Chan, whose family has owned the restaurant for 23 years.
Chan added that the restaurant represents more than just a business.
“It’s like a symbol of immigrants and different cultures coming together to have dim sum,” he said.
That symbol was damaged over the holiday weekend, when Chan said someone “went berserk” on the restaurant’s glass front door.
The timing made things worse. Because the damage happened on a Sunday, repairs couldn’t be made right away, leaving the restaurant to absorb both the cost of repairs and dismay from Mother’s Day patrons, greeted by what Chan called a “black eye” at the entrance.
“It’s a gut punch,” Chan said. “You work so hard and just a random expense comes out. It takes out a whole Monday’s worth of profit. It hurts.”
Chan estimates the damage to be $1,500 to $2,000. This is not an isolated incident, he noted — it’s the fourth time since 2020 the restaurant’s door has been damaged, costing thousands of dollars in repairs.
Despite Seattle Police data showing that property and violent crime in the neighborhood are slightly down compared to May 2025, incidents like this continue to impact small businesses on the ground.
For customers, the damage is both frustrating and motivating.
“I just think it’s a shame,” said Rory Borcherding, who was visiting the restaurant for lunch Monday.
He said the vandalism makes him want to show even more support.
“It feels sad that people would do that to a restaurant like this,” Borcherding said. “But it also makes me want to come here more… to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
In a statement, the Seattle Mayor’s Office says it is working with community partners to support businesses in the CID. The city’s Office of Economic Development offers grants through its Back to Business Fund, including up to $3,000 for storefront repairs and up to $6,000 for security improvements.
Officials also point to increased police presence in the area, including emphasis patrols near 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street, with plans for more patrols ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Additionally, KING 5 reported in April that the CID Safety Ambassadors program is doubling in size ahead of the international soccer tournament as well.
Chan said he appreciates the support, but will remain focused on protecting what his family has built.
“I love this city. I love this community,” he said. “I don’t want to see it going to shambles.”
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