The Window Security Film Project is an effort from the CID Small Business Relief Team (SBRT) to address the security issues that small businesses in the Chinatown International District (CID) have been experiencing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. CID businesses have been impacted by increased break-ins, burglary, and vandalism, in addition to the economic struggles of operating a small business during a pandemic. The increase in property damage has led to many businesses putting plywood boards up to cover their windows as a preventive measure. As the pandemic continues, business owners are understandably concerned about the risks of taking down the plywood and the impact on security and safety. There needed to be a way to address these concerns with concrete actions that alleviate the concerns for our community members and reduce the vulnerability of our small businesses, which is where security film comes in.
While no film guarantees complete protection, thick film prevents glass from scratching and scattering, and keeps intruders and projectiles out. Throughout the pandemic, more business owners have sought façade protection measures, including film, gates, lighting, and cameras. Transparent film is the most economical and least invasive. If a majority of storefronts have it, the district could be more resilient to crime.
The overarching goals of the Window Security Film Project are:
1) Discourage storefront vandalism and break-ins throughout Chinatown ID; and,
2) Support small business owners in protecting their storefronts while removing plywood.
The first round of security film was completed in September 2022, where the SBRT worked to replace broken glass for 15 businesses and install security film for 42 businesses.
As of April 2023, the second round of businesses to receive security film is almost complete, with 20 businesses receiving window glass replacement and 51 businesses receiving security film installation. By the end of March 2024, we facilitated security film installation and glass replacement for 13 more businesses.
Thank you to our local contractors Pro-Tection Seattle, Perkins Glass, and A&C Glass for partnering with us to repair and reinforce windows and doors for CID small businesses.
For questions, please email cidbizrelief@scidpda.org.
Before & After Photos
After (right): The boards have been taken down after security film was installed. Flowers can receive natural light again.
After (right): The broken window has been replaced, and security film was installed by our contractors.
After (right): The broken window has been replaced, allowing for easier access to the storefront, plywood has been taken down, and natural light and the cherry blossoms are able to be seen from the storefront.
After (right): All windows were reinforced with security film and plywood was taken down to reveal the unique octagonal windows.
After (right): Two broken windows were replaced and reinforced with security film and plywood was taken down to reveal the deli and let in natural light. The plywood art was donated to the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.
Round 2 Security Film Recipients
Round 2 Security Film Installation took place between December 2022 and April 2024.
| 663 Bistro Alice’s Floral Designs Anh Minh Money Transfer Anh Shenh Herbs Basic Cut Barber Shop BeanFish Call A Chicken Chengdu Memory Chung Chun Rice Hot Dog Colors Abloom Dim Sum King Dochi Evergreen New-life LLC Fortune Garden Inc. Fuji Bakery GLOBAL TRAVEL / Global Services LLC / Seattle Chinese Service Global wireless station goPoke Gourmet Noodle Bowl Hello Em Café International Model Toys Insurance Pro Ironsteak Jade Garden Jian He Hang Company Loving Hut Seattle Vegan Cuisine Dim Sum Square Amritsar Tadkas New An Dong Luke Health Insurance Center | Moksha Nam Phuong Bookstore Northwest Auto Empire Ocean Star OneWorld Now Panda Yogurt (Yomie’s) Pho Ba Pho Bac Boat Pink Gorilla Games Seattle Chiropractic Center Seattle Gospel Center Seattle Pinball Museum Seattle Vision Clinic Spring Roll House Deli Tous les Jours Bakery Tsukushinbo restaurant Universal Tours Vietnam House Vital Tea Lounge (King St) Vital Tea Lounge (Jackson St) Washington State Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Center WKND – DADADA gallery Vina Acupuncture Vuu’s Beauty School Yansan Oriental Herbs Center & Groceries Bao An Tang Herb Shop St. Paul Medical Clinic Ngoc Tri Jewelry New Gan Shan |
Round 1 Security Film Recipients
Round 1 Security Film Installation took place between May 2022 and September 2022.
| Bich Kieu Jewelry Chu Minh Tofu and Vegan Deli Fresh fruit juice and bubble tea HKG Products Loving Hut Seattle Vegan Cuisine Mi La Cay Restaurant Nguyễn Vũ Jewelry Ocean Pacific Travel Phnom Penh Noodle house Seattle Nail Supply Song Phang Kong Ten Sushi Thành phát tài LLC UNIVERSAL TOURS INC. Viet Wah Supermarket Wong Tung Seafood American Hotel Hostel Cake House City Produce company Crawfish King Ho Ho seafood restaurant Hood Famous Cafe + Bar | Jardin Tea King Noodle Oasis Tea Zone Pho Hoa & Jazen Tea Shanghai Garden Restaurant Tabletop Village LLC Tai Tung Inc Asia Bar-b-que Fast Foods Baegopa Cindy’s Beauty Salon Harmony Palace Hair to you Kau Kau BBQ Market & Restaurant KOBO at Higo Mike’s Noodle House Pacific Range Hoods & Modern Trading Co. Sizzling pot king Szechuan Noodle Bowl Trichome Washington State Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Center |
This project is funded by the Seattle Office of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Economic Recovery Fund and a combination of other public funds and foundations.
