In 1989, Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Cappadonna walked through Chiokva “Eva” Sam’s doors. “He was the first [rapper],” Eva recalls.
Eva had opened her jewelry store, Popular Jewelry Inc. only a year prior. Her family fled their hometown during the cultural revolution, giving birth to her in Macau and eventually residing in the United States. With a $100,000 USD loan from her brother, Eva signed a lease on October 3, 1988 to open the now rap-famous jewelry spot at 255B Canal St.
The walls inside the unassuming booth are lined with fringed Polaroid photos of famous patrons, and frequent customers. They tell the history of a mother, her son, and the musicians who love to frequent their business. It’s a family story rooted in Chinese culture, and laced with the folklore of an American dream tale.
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