The Tiki Hut at 10 Tyler Street was owned and managed by Yick from 1961-1962. In February of 1970, The Boston Globe cited the restaurant and bar as “a favorite after-show stop.” Tiki Hut provided guests with “an exotic Cantonese and Polynesian” fusion, termed “island style,” food and cocktails. Yick struck a prominent figure in Boston’s Chinatown. She was photographed in the Globe on numerous occasions, showcasing her work in the food services arena, as well as her advocacy for equal rights. In 1971, the owners of 10 Tyler Street began the process of auctioning Yick’s lease. In response, Mary Yick petitioned to retain her lease, citing the upheaval of several other female-owned restaurants in Chinatown. In her petition, she highlighted the social stigma of being a Chinese woman and her position as less than the Chinese man, especially in her roles as entrepreneur. When the Tiki Hut closed in 1973, Mary Yick had been the only female entrepreneur and restaurateur in Chinatown for a number of years.
