03/16/2025
🌊 Women Who Shaped Washington: Ruby Chow 🌊
If there was one woman who redefined Seattle’s civic and cultural scene, it was Ruby Chow. A restaurateur, activist, and political powerhouse, Chow was a woman of firsts—the first Asian American on the King County Council, the first woman to serve on a Chong Wa Benevolent Association board, and the first to open a Chinese restaurant outside of Chinatown.
Born on a Seattle fish dock in 1920, Chow grew up in Chinatown (now the International District) during the Chinese Exclusion Act era, a time when opportunities for Chinese immigrants were scarce. She left high school at 16 to support her family, but she never let that hold her back. In 1948, she and her husband Ping Chow opened Ruby Chow’s Restaurant, which quickly became a celebrity hotspot and an informal political clubhouse, hosting governors, mayors, and visiting dignitaries. Even a young Bruce Lee briefly lived above the restaurant!
But Chow was more than a successful business owner—she was a tireless advocate for Seattle’s Chinese community. She fought for bilingual education, public transit improvements, and better representation for Asian Americans in government. Elected to the King County Council in 1973, she spent three terms championing the needs of her diverse district. Whether lobbying for more bus shelters, challenging outdated policies, or standing her ground in a room full of politicians, Chow never backed down from a fight.
Ruby Chow’s bold, no-nonsense leadership helped break down barriers for future generations. Today, Ruby Chow Park in Georgetown stands in her honor, a reminder of her unstoppable spirit and decades of dedication to Seattle.
📷 Ruby Chow in her kitchen 1960, Courtesy of MOHAI