Great Neck, once emblematic of the Gatsby‑era Gold Coast —keeps evolving.
In past columns, we have explored the Great Neck Persians, dating back to the 1980s. The significant arrival of East Asians to our peninsula began in the late 1990s.
Their rise was not monolithic, but layered, dynamic, and now, deeply woven into the fabric of our town. Understanding this demographic shift has important implications for how Great Neck imagines itself in the 21st century.
Community of Nations
Great Neck’s Asian community is multi‑layered. Chinese is the largest subgroup. After that, there is Korean, then Indian/ South Asian, Filipino, Japanese and Bangladeshi.
Their cultural backgrounds, language, and traditions differ, which shape how they assimilate. As the Asian subgroups grow, there’s potential for more cultural infrastructure: language taught in schools (Mandarin, Korean, Hindi, etc.), religious or spiritual centers, and community associations, to help first-generation immigrants maintain ties to their heritage, while also helping younger generations develop a more hybrid identity.
The chief magnet for this group is, you guessed it, our public school system, GNPS. For many immigrant parents, providing their children with a top-tier education is a pathway to long-term stability.
Mission, accomplished. Beyond our top-rated schools, several pull factors converge. Proximity to Queens and Manhattan, with a quick commute, makes our town attractive for upwardly mobile immigrant families. Brace yourself for any Mamdani effect.
Given our place in Nassau County (the safest county in the US!) hate has no home here–whether in regards to the Asian community, Jewish community, or anyone! Great Neck offers the promise of space, safety, prestige, and community. No need to humblebrag, fán ěr sài.
The Great Multiplier
At the start of the millennium,85.3% of Great Neck residents identified as White, while only 5% identified as Asian. There was a decade of growth and by 2010, due to changing demographics, 12.8% of Great Neck public school students were Asian. Ten years later, that share had doubled to 26%.
More recently, Great Neck South High School’s demographic breakdown shows that 75% or more of the students are Asian. This shift has driven curricular and institutional changes at GNPS, with the district now offering Mandarin Chinese beginning in middle school, replacing Latin.
At South High, “Cultural Heritage Night” has become a marquee event: a two-hour celebration of dances, art, and performance from the many Asian cultures represented in the student body. The influence of Asian culture in our schools, PTAs, library resources/ programming and community associations is evident.
Another anchor for the Chinese community was the founding of the Great Neck Chinese Association in 1995, which supports recent immigrants and second-generation Chinese Americans, much like SHAI does for Great Neck’s Persian Jewish population.
Today, the GNCA is led by President Steve Chen and VP Jane Zhang, with Kevin Sun on the education committee. Steve Chen is also a board trustee of the GNPS.
A is for Assimilation
In public spaces — the Village Green, park district facilities, libraries, public schools — our diverse groups and traditions meet, mingle, (err, avoid), and increasingly shape a shared civic life. Rù xiāng suí sú. When on Strada Middle Neck Road in Rome, do as the Romans , err Great Neckers do.
Par for the course, there is pressure: academic, social, cultural — from immigrant parents who sacrificed to bring their families here, deriving from a tight community that prizes educational and professional success.
This is known as nei juan, over-competitive stress. Chinese and Korean households, in particular, are known for their academic rigor. When the first generation, born here or not, adapts to American life, their tiger moms encounter more and more resistance and friction.
Today, these kids are not just Chinese or Korean or from “that” community— they are Great Neckers, Americans, New Yorkers. One can say they are Buddha-like, laid back, fó xì. Less piano and violin, more cowbell!
Great Neck- A Tapestry
Great Neck’s future depends on its ability to embrace its mosaic — the Chinese violinist next to the Persian synagogue, the Korean parents at the school PTA, the Russian-speaking teenager working at a local store.
It’s not just about demographic change; it’s about building a shared story and a hometown. In this land of opportunity, the multiplicity of Asian ethnicities can strengthen Great Neck’s cultural richness and civic life — if community-building is intentional. To that end, in the public square, many events organized by villages and schools are increasingly inclusive and globally aware.
May We Have Good Fortune
Since 2021, when we launched, Destination: Great Neck has observed our town’s cultural trends and how they impact economic development, our retail sector, and the overall Great Neck “brand.”
Sadly, the days of Lonny’s, Camp & Campus and Jildor, (Brat? Igia?) et al are long gone. (sigh). It does not appear that there will be any exciting retail shops opening up along Middle Neck Road anytime soon in the age of Amazon, Instacart, and Costco.
While we mightily enjoy Steven Dann, Nardo, Michele Lynn, here, we cope and self- soothe by hightailing to the Americana in Manhasset. We’re doing fine!
Beauty–related businesses do great here. They cross the cultural divide, it seems, unlike our longed-for diversity in the retail mix.
As for eats, there seems to be a revolving door of Chinese food. Elaine’s was a hot spot for generic “American-Chinese” food back in the day, til it wasn’t. (Dagim on Bond Street is doing quite nicely there, thank you). Wild Ginger, a longtime Asian-fusion staple in Great Neck Plaza closed earlier this year, after 23 years of operation.
A few thriving Asian eateries have opened in Great Neck including Soku, a modern Pan- Asian restaurant and Shoshaku. More recently, Tiger Sushi and Chiyoda, which happen to be under kosher supervision.
New Fun Run and Hunan Tapas get rave reviews, reflecting a trend toward more authentic, regional Chinese cuisine. White Bear, newly opened on Bond Street has a cult following for their dumplings.
Lounge X, a unique space, features golf simulation, event space and fine dining. And, of course, there is our tried-and-true, recently revitalized Daruma of Tokyo. With the new Tommy’s at the helm, méi shì, all is well.
