Louis Fiset writes in Camp Harmony: Seattle's Japanese Americans and the Puyallup Assembly Center, "Like the Chinese, African Americans brought their own mystique to the Jackson Street--Chinatown district as Seattleites headed to Chinatown to experience the jazz. Owned or operated by African Americans, most of the clubs there hired African American musicians.""African Americans did not operate all the clubs. Charlie Louie, who owned the Chinese Gardens at Seventh Avenue near King Street, was well known among jazz aficionados."
"Japanese businessmen also took in Seattle's jazz scene. Mannosuke Shraishi, owner of the Tokiwa Hotel at 655 1/2 Jackson Street, served as president of the Japanese Association of North American/Seattle Japanese chamber of Commerce in 1940. The building also housed the Tokyo Cafe. Both establishments becam favorites of black musicians who, for a few dollars a week, found a comfortable place to lie over."
