Updated Mar. 15
Lon Martin kept the bell that chimed âorder up.â The black gate that led to the entrance now hangs in Tonya Downingâs backyard. Treona Lovelady took the plates and menus from their familyâs iconic St. Petersburg restaurant.
And the red arrow that lit up 4th Street North for more than 60 years is
in storage.
In 2016, the Moon family sold China City. Mar Fee âYeeâ Moon, the patriarch, owner and chef, died in 2019. Several of his 11 children went back last year as the inside of the building was demolished.
They wanted to say goodbye.
They didnât know theyâd have a reason to go back soon.