Introduction:

My GIS project involves finding the best suitable location to establish a high-class traditional Chinese restaurant in the city of Chicago. I have deliberately chosen Chicago amongst many other North American cities, as Chicago is renown for many of its famous restaurants, as some have even been broadcasted in the Food Channel in the recent past. Another reason that I have chosen Chicago involves the case where the city has a well-established Chinese community that dated as far back as 1870s (Steffes, 2005). In additional, Chicago does have a significant number of Chinese Americans as the 2000 census figures show that there is about 4,410 Chinese living in the city of Chicago. Finally, I have picked the Chicago for my GIS project as the city's website contains large number of relevant GIS data and shape files. In order to focus on specific area in Chicago that is best suitable for the establishment for fine Chinese restaurant, I have set the following criteria for my spatial evaluation. Such criterias include:

• Chinese: Although the restaurant that is being establish caters to the general public who desires traditional Chinese cuisine. It is likely that majority of the customers would be of Chinese origin, thus making this an important criteria.

• Asian speaking population: It is likely that people who still communicate with their Chinese native tongue are the type of people who still continue to hold strongly to their cultural tradition and heritage. It is from these selected Chinese population that would likely prefer authentic Chinese restaurants. Conversely, those who have lost their native tongue are likely be “Naturalized” to the American culture, thus consequently may show no specific preference between Westernized Chinese foods and authentic Chinese cuisine.

• Family income (>$100,000/year): Given the case where a nine-course dinner can cost up to $700(CAD), it is likely that only people with a significant amount of disposable income would able to afford to dine in such an expensive restaurant on a relatively frequent basis.

• Owner occupied: In general, a significant part of the cost of living is attributed to rental cost or monthly mortgages, hence if someone already own a real estate or a house property; it is likely that person would have relatively higher disposable income to spend on expensive dinners.

• Drives > 2 vehicles: When a family possesses two or more vehicles, there is a good chance that they are financially well off and are willing to spend their money on various goods and services versus saving their earnings in their bank.

• Family size (> 4): Since the fine Chinese restaurant that is being establish specializes in family dinners and grand wedding banquets. In general, one can assume that the higher the family size, the likely more family members and relatives would attend.

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