History

The 1960s were the heyday of the motor inn craze, and Americans were eager to hit the road and explore the country, including great cities like San Francisco. Located at the intersection of North Beach with its Beat Movement and Chinatown and its growing tourism, The Royal Pacific Motor Inn was at the epicenter of the city’s cultural scene.

The Beatniks hung out at the City Lights Bookstore just around the corner from the motel and held poetry readings in nearby cafes. A period often referred to as the San Francisco Renaissance, it was to later influence the famous San Francisco music scene and hippie culture, including the Summer of Love.

In the 1960s the San Francisco Bay Area was also home to several major naval bases, and the Presidio was an active Army base. Soldiers and sailors frequented the “gentleman’s clubs” on Columbus and Broadway. At night, club brawls regularly occurred and wagons with military police hanging on the back could be seen patrolling the streets. City officials and Chinatown residents were eager to improve the image and stature of the neighborhood and bring more visitors to the area.

Five founding families, led by Dean Woo, Bruce Jang, and Jimmy Fong, along with Tommy Fong and Frank Fong, had a vision of creating the Royal Pacific Motor Inn as the flagship of the Chinatown community. Together they set out to build “San Francisco’s luxurious million dollar motel with exotic rooms and Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Hawaiian decors.” It opened with much fanfare in 1962, with dignitaries including San Francisco Mayor George Christopher and Miss Chinatown in attendance for the ribbon cutting.

Dean Woo managed the hotel and was no stranger to serving. A true American hero, he served in the U.S. Army in North Africa and Europe and through major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, caring for the wounded. He continued to give back to his community and country after the war, and was Post Commander of the Golden Gate chapter of the American Legion.

In 2021, the Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project voted unanimously to award Dean the Congressional Gold Medal. It is the highest civilian award in the United States. He joins his fellow servicemen and -women in the honor.

Even today, staff members tell stories of Dean’s tireless dedication to serving the employees and guests of the Royal Pacific Motor Inn.

The motel is still owned by the founding families and many of the employees have been a part of the Royal Pacific staff for 20 years or more. It is like one big family, rooted in a commitment to the local community and to providing guests with fond memories of their time spent in San Francisco.

From our family to yours, we welcome you to the Royal Pacific Motor Inn.