Serving Chinese cuisine such as Peking duck, the Republic Café has been described as part of the neighborhood's Asian American history.

[2] The Republic Café is a Mission Revival architecture style building located at 37 Soledad Street in Salinas, California.

[2] The Republic Café and Chinatown provided a gathering place for the Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino communities to celebrate their cultural heritage.

The building has kept its original narrow, rectangular layout, and facade with Chinese architectural elements, including the wood rafters and clay tiled roof.

[3][5] There were plans for restoration of the Republic Café and the adjacent Lotus Inn, thanks to a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).