Ruby Chow's Restaurant

After returning to the United States in 1959 (Bruce was born in America in 1940) he lived and worked at Ruby Chow's restaurant, 1122 Jefferson Street, Seattle WA 98104 (at the corner of Broadway and Jefferson). The building is no longer there and is now the parking lot for First Hill Medical Building.

Bruce and his students would often work out wherever there was space including parking garages, public parks, etc. One of the first locations where they would gather to exercise and train is in the Chinatown area at 651 S. Weller St, Seattle WA 98104. This is now the Ho Ho Restaurant (653 S. Weller St).  The Tai Tung Restaurant in Chinatown at 655 S. King St, Seattle WA 98104 was one of Bruce's favorite places to eat.

Bruce would sometimes demonstrate gung fu at the Chong Wa Benevolent Association at 522 7th Avenue S, Seattle WA 98104. Bruce taught gung fu lessons to the members of Boy Scout Troop 54 at Chong Wa and later at the Chinese Southern Baptist Church in Chinatown located at 925 S King St, Seattle WA 98104 (10th Avenue S and King St).

 Another favorite of Bruce and his students was Gim Ling Restaurant at 516 7th Ave S, Seattle WA 98104. The first picture is as it appeared in the 60's, the second photo as it appears today. The last photo shows the faded Gim Ling sign - the only remnant of the restaurant's earlier days.  Bruce opened his first gwoon (school) at 609 S. Weller St, Seattle WA 98104. This is now the Mongolian Hot Pot restaurant.

According to Kudos Memorabilia Ltd, "Bruce had a deep love and appreciation for Japanese Cinema and, during the 1960s, would often take in shows of classic Samurai films at the beloved, but very run-down, Kokusai Theatre at 412 Maynard Avenue South in Seattle, Washington".  https://bruceleethelifethelegacythelegend.com

Bruce's second gwoon was established a few blocks away at 418 1/2 8th Avenue South, Seattle WA 98104 next to the Szechuan Noodle Bowl restaurant. Some sources list the address as 420 1/2 (or B) 8th Avenue South in the basement of the actual Szechuan Noodle restaurant.  Bruce's 3rd gwoon was opened in 1963 near the University of Washington campus at 4750 University Way NE, Seattle WA 98105. He lived in the back of the restaurant at the same address. Taky Kimura became his senior instructor​.  

Bruce performed gung fu demonstrations at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Avenue, Seattle WA 98122. This is where he met his future wife Linda Emery.  He also gave gung fu demonstrations at Franklin High School, 3013 S. Mount Baker Blvd, Seattle WA 98144. 

Bruce attended and graduated from the Edison Technical School in 1960. It is now the Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway (Broadway and Pine), Seattle WA 98122. Bruce and his first student Jesse Glover used to workout in this area near some steps on the back of the college off Harvard Avenue. 

Bruce attended the University of Washington, 4014 University Way NE, Seattle WA 98195.​  Sometimes Bruce taught gung fu classes near the impressive columns on the University of Washington campus.

Both Bruce and Brandon Lee are buried at Lakeview Cemetery, 1554 15th Avenue E, Seattle WA 98122. Many are unaware that Bruce's current headstone is not the original one it's actually the third. The original featured a left-side pose of Bruce from Enter the Dragon (photo credit: Peter Moss). The second, featuring Bruce wearing glasses, was vandalized and subsequently replaced with the current headstone with a right-side pose from Enter the Dragon. Near Bruce and Brandon's graves you can find the headstones for two of Bruce's earliest Seattle students, Jesse Glover and Ed Hart.