Historic Far East Center in Denver Receives $250,000 Grant for Preservation
DENVER — The Far East Center, a pivotal cultural landmark for Denver’s East Asian community, has been awarded a $250,000 grant aimed at preservation and restoration efforts. Recently added to the State Register of Historic Properties, the center was founded by the Luong family, who emigrated from Vietnam seeking a new life.
Marcie Moore Gantz, the state historical fund director with History Colorado, stressed the necessity of preserving such heritage sites, particularly in marginalized communities. She noted that only 4% of the state and national registries represent these communities and highlighted History Colorado’s Heritage for All project, which aims to recognize 150 underrepresented sites by 2026.
The story of the Far East Center is deeply intertwined with the Luong family’s history. Mimi Luong, whose grandparents fled Vietnam during the war, recounted the urgent escape triggered by North Vietnamese soldiers. The Luong family’s journey to Denver culminated in the establishment of the Far East Center in 1988, which was designed to be a welcoming space for the Asian community and now hosts a variety of businesses from Vietnamese to Cambodian vendors.
The grant will facilitate crucial restoration work, including stucco repairs and drainage improvements, ensuring that the center remains a vibrant community hub for future generations. Mimi Luong, the property manager and owner of Trung On Gifts, expressed hope in continuing her family’s legacy.
The Far East Center is set to celebrate the Lunar New Year with events on February 1 and 2, featuring cultural performances, a marketplace with street food, arts and crafts for children, and traditional festivities, including fireworks and a lion dance.