Day 71: Joe Huie’s Café, Duluth, Minnesota
📌APIA Every Day (71) - Joe Huie’s Café, situated in Duluth, Minnesota, operated from 1951 to 1973, leaving a lasting impact on the community. Owned by Chinese immigrant Joe Huie, the restaurant served a menu of American Chinese and authentic Chinese dishes. Huie immigrated to Duluth from China’s Guangdong Province in 1925 to work for a relative who owned Duluth’s St. Paul Restaurant. Over the next 25 years, he traveled between Duluth and the Guangdong Province, finally settling in Duluth in 1951 with his two older sons. In that year, he opened his cafe, and two years later, the rest of his family joined him.
Known for its humor, such as the "OPEN 24 HOURS" sign due to a lost key, the café became a community hub. Despite its modest décor, it attracted a diverse clientele, and its late-night hours drew in customers after bar closures. Along with the restaurant’s popularity, Huie’s hard work ethic, shaped by his immigrant experience, made him a respected figure in Duluth. This reputation was furthered by his known generosity, as he often provided meals on credit or as handouts to those in need.
Joe Huie’s Cafe, located near the corner of Lake Avenue and Michigan Street, closed in 1973. Many community members mourned the loss of the popular diner, with sentiments expressed by notable figures like Jeno Paulucci and Police Chief Eli Miletich. The Huie family continued to open restaurants, such as the Chinese Lantern and Huie’s Chopstick. Unfortunately, Chinese Lantern caught fire on January 16, 1993. However, Huie’s Chopsticks on Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue East remained in operation until August 2022.
For the first time, the city of Duluth went without a Huie-owned restaurant; however, their contributions to the community continue to be remembered to this day.
LEARN MORE:
MinnPost: What made Joe Huie’s Café a Duluth institution for more than two decades
MNOpedia: Joe Huie’s Café, Duluth
Zenith City Press: Joe Huie’s Cafe
Dulutuh News Tribune: Kathleen Murphy column: Duluth loses restaurant family legacy
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