David Joe opened the “China Clipper Cafe” on McKinney Avenue in 1938. He was part of a second wave of Chinese immigrants to arrive in Dallas in the 1930s, following the demise of the local Klan in 1925. During this time, there were between 10-30 Chinese people who were the owners and employees of five restaurants.
The China Clipper was the last restaurant standing from that era until it was torn down in 1980. David Joe became an American citizen in 1955 and operated the restaurant until his retirement in 1972. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 80.
(Source: “Legacies: A History Journal for Dallas and North Central Texas” and Dallas Morning News)
