Fall 2025
Republic Cafe Renovation, Special Projects, Events, & Fundraisers
Greetings to Members and Friends of ACES,
We hope you had a wonderful break during the summer. It’s now early September, and we already have plenty of upcoming events on our table for this year and next, including more news about the Republic Cafe in Salinas Chinatown.
Republic Cafe Renovation
First, regarding the status of the Republic Cafe and Lotus Inn (37-39 Soledad St.) that we reported in the Spring 2025 issue, we have since learned that the information we received was incorrect. In fact, there are many positive things to report: escrow closed on the property title in December 2024, although some details for preliminary steps in renovation still need to be worked out. We were happy to hear that Assistant City Manager Lisa Murphy had hired consultant Don Reynolds to help execute the property acquisition and its development in Chinatown. Don has a lot of experience in Chinatown and ACES has worked with him extensively in the past. We look forward to working with him again.
As we learned on a recent walk-through of the property, the City has contracted with TEF architects1 to begin design work for the Republic Café. Working with TEF is Groundwork Preservation, an historic architecture preservation firm, which will help to preserve this nationally registered historic building. A structural engineering company was also present to view the damage to the building and determine what was needed to stabilize the structure (fix the roof and fire damage to make it water tight). The engineering company also will properly secure the property from trespassers. Funds are available to clean out the fire damage. Amid this good news is the even better news that those funds will need to be spent by April 1, 2026. Things are moving along! Progress on actual renovation will begin as soon as plans are in place.
The RC renovation comes amid initial planning for several other buildings on Soledad St., as we reported in the Summer 2025 issue.
You Can Help
As you probably know, our plans for renovation of the Republic Cafe building and the creation of a Chinatown Museum & Cultural Center have been in the works for a long time. It’s a relief to know that we have finally begun work on the RC, albeit we are still in early planning stages. Your support for this project—in the form of membership and donations—will be crucial throughout this process; we will keep you informed as we continue on this path. In the near future, we will create a page on our website to take donations specifically for the RC project, and to receive community input. If you would like to give us your input now, or discuss a donation, please contact us at info@salinasace.org.
Alex Fabros in Positively Filipino
It’s Filipino American History Month! Recently, Positively Filipino magazine has published a number of essays and poems by historian and ACES member Alex Fabros. All of the essays focus on Filipinos in the Salinas Valley and other areas of California; the most recent focuses on Filipinos and the Delano Grape Strike, and Alex’s experience of getting drafted by Uncle Sam. Check out all of Fabros’ essays and poems in Positively Filipino.
Student Volunteers
Jason Agpaoa and Larry Hirahara participated in the in-person service learning fair at CSUMB. We are happy to support the service-learning program, and to welcome students who have already begun to participate in our projects and upcoming events.
Special Projects
Kansha Farm History Project: ACES is honored to be a partner in the Kansha Farm History project, which documents and celebrates the contributions, skills, and accomplishments of Nikkei (Japanese American) farmers prior to World War II—a legacy which continues to this day. In this important project over 100 volunteers, mostly Nikkei farmer descendants, have transcribed 5,000 records, making them searchable to descendants. Some of these records document what happened to Nikkei-owned properties during WWII, when the families were sent to internment camps. Learn more on the Kansha website.
ACES Archives
Our archival work continues. We have so far, uploaded 222 images into our Omeka archival website, with hundreds more to go. Do check out our collection located at acesalinaschinatown.omeka.net. Not all of our images are have complete descriptions. If you see an image that needs more information that you can contribute, please contact us via info@salinasace.org.
Mae Sakasegawa’s Book, 2nd edition
Mae Sakasegawa’s book The Issei of the Salinas Valley: Japanese Pioneer Families now comes in a beautiful, updated hardcover edition. It will be available for sale at ACES pop-up table during Monterey County Historic Society’s Rancho Days at the Adobe, Sept. 27, 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Boronda Adobe History Center, 333 Boronda Rd., Salinas.
UPCOMING EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS
ACES at Hartnell College
As part of Filipino-American History Month, Dr. Yeng Yang of Hartnell College has invited ACES to talk about Filipino American history to both his ethnic studies class and the Hartnell population generally, on Tuesday, October 14th,2
11:30 am—1 pm, Student Center. Contact ACES if you are interested in attending. We will offer an overview of ACES, and cover a range of topics about Filipino American history, including contexts for Filipino American History, Filipino Labor activism, the Philippines Mail newspaper, Cultural Dances, and notable Filipinos in Salinas Valley. We are looking forward to this event!
History and Culture Pop-ups
ACES will have a history and culture pop-up at both Rancho Days at the Adobe and the Steinbeck Street Faire. Stop by for a chat! We’d love to talk to you about Salinas Chinatown and our plans for revitalization:
Monterey County Historic Society’s Rancho Days at the Adobe, Sept. 27, 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Boronda Adobe History Center, 333 Boronda Rd., Salinas, CA 93907
Steinbeck Street Faire, Sept. 27, 10:00 am—2:00 pm / National Steinbeck Center, 100 Block of Main Street in Salinas.
2026 Asian Cultural Fair
We have scheduled our first Asian Cultural Fair Planning Meeting for Sept.16, 9:30 am—11:00 am at the Buddhist Temple of Salinas. We hope you can attend and help us plan the 2026 event. If you plan on attending, please email us at info@salinasace.org
Membership Appreciation Event:
ACES members will gather for a meet-and-greet event on Thurs., Oct. 23, 5-7pm, at the Filipino Community of Salinas Valley Hall, 250 Calle Cebu in Salinas. In addition to food and fun (including karaoke!) there will be a short presentation about Filipino Immigration History and the 1935 Filipino Reparation Act.
RSVP: info@salinasace.org
ACES Tri-Tip Take-Out Fundraiser:
Our next Tri-Tip Takeout Fundraiser is scheduled for November 1, 2025. As always, pick-up will be from 11:00 am—1:00 pm at the Buddhist Temple of Salinas. Use the QR code below to pay and reserve your take-out meal, or use the Tri-Tip page link.
FCSV New Years Eve Dinner & Dance
The Filipino Community of Salinas Valley will present a New Years Eve dinner and dance on December 31, 2025. Great food and music, and your donations will benefit the ongoing Filipino Community Building Renovation:
GET INVOLVED!
ACES continues to work with local organizations and students, presenting opportunities for historical pop-ups, exhibits, and tours. Revitalization of Chinatown and creation of a community based cultural center and museum in the Republic Cafe building remains our top priority. Learn more about the organization at our ACES website.
If you are a member of ACES, don’t forget to renew your membership every year. If you are not yet a member, please join!
Questions? Contact us by email at info@salinasace.org. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for reading ACE Asian Cultural Experience. If you haven’t yet subscribed to receive our newsletter by email, please do so—it’s free!
TEF has been involved in major historic preservation and design projects in the Francisco Bay Area, including Piers 1, 5, & 3, Angel Island Immigration buildings, Ferry Building Arcade, and much more.
Originally, the date given here was October 15, which was an error. The correct date is Tuesday, October 14.