Albert Gee (born C. B. Albert Gee in 1920, died 1978) was an American businessman, restauranteur, and Asian American Activist. After spending time in Detroit, MI and New Orleans, LA, the death of his father led his mother to move the family back to China. Returning to San Francisco, CA, he settled in Houston, TX in 1936. There, he started successful grocery stores and restaurants. He is noted as having served as National Grand President of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA), president of The Houston Lodge of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA), and president of The Houston Restaurant Association.
Albert Gee was born in 1920 in Detroit, MI. His family moved to New Orleans, LA for his father to run a laundromat business. When his father died in 1927, his mother moved the family back to Wing On (Hoi Ping County), Guangdong Province, China, as they felt life would be easier as his mother could not speak English. Nevertheless, his mother always imagined her children would eventually return to the US. In 1931, Gee returned to the US. He lived in San Francisco, CA with the help of his godfather, Uncle Tom. In 1936, he made his final move, to Houston, TX, where he would join his Uncle Harry Gee Sr. and settle down.
After supporting his uncle in his own restaurants (Main Café, Chinese Village Restaurants), Gee founded numerous grocery stores and restaurants in Houston, TX, including Gee's Kitchen, the Frying Pan, the Ding How, Chinese Oven, and Hong Kong Chef. Many of his restaurants served pan-Asian foods, connecting various Asian-American communities within Houston. Gee's restaurants also helped bring Chinese takeout to the American mainstream.
From this success, Gee served as the president of the Houston Restaurant Association from 1961 to 1962, a rare trailblazing moment for Asian Americans in Houston, TX at the time.
Gee's success also enabled him to rise to become a community activist within the Asian American community in Houston, TX. He served as the founder and first president of The Houston Lodge of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA). From this position, he rose in the ranks of the CACA, even serving as National Grand President. As of 1998, he is the only person outside of California to have serve in this role.
Gee not only supported Asian Americans already in Houston, but sponsored the immigration of anyone who held the last name Gee. Once in the United States, Gee would help kickstart their career in the country. When Gee was still alive, he hosted Gee family reunions at his largest restaurant, the Ding How, which quickly became very crowded.