Our Hood

Candelas has the proud distinction of residing in the Old Chinatown District (formerly the Asain Pacific Historic District) of downtown San Diego. We are housed in the Quong Building, flanked by the Chinese Mission Building and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association which are homes to the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum and the San Diego Chinese Center, respectively.

The Quong Building, 1913
It's not a only a historic structure, it has also been the site of archeological digs. The building gets its name from Mow Yuen Quong, a business man who operated the structure from 1889 to 1928. The building has been listed in city directories as being an opium den, a restaurant, and an Oriental merchandise store, all during Quong's operation. Later years saw the building used as a house of prostitution run by the infamous Mary Smith.

Chinese Mission Building, 1927
The California Mission Revival-style building was designed by Louis Gill, nephew and protege of Irving Gill. The facade of the the one-story chapel features a sloping red tile roof over a central bell tower. The Chinese Mission, located in the building until 1960, served as a social center where Chinese immigrants learned English and received religious instruction. The building was relocated to this site in 1995 from First Avenue between G and Market streets.

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, 1911
The original tenants of this two-story Oriental-themed structure were the Gee Goon Tong, famous for their help in plotting the 1912 revolution which formed the Republic of China. The Benevolent Society was founded in 1920 as an outgrowth of the Tong to serve the Chinese community.