Posted on Sep 9, 2023
Asian malls in the U.S. are thriving post-pandemic, bucking a retail trend
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Every weekend this summer, thousands of people have flocked to a seasonal night market in front of Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, California, to scoop up grilled razor clams, balut and fresh-squeezed sugar cane juice.
Twenty minutes north, in Buena Park, Yena Kim and Jackie Lee, both 16, visit The Source OC at least once a month. On a toasty July afternoon, they sipped Macanese-style dalgona milk tea from Flippoly, a dessert and sandwich joint, and played games at an internet cafe called Ultimate Esport.
“At American malls, you kind of just go shopping,” Kim said. “Here you come for the entertainment.”
While many U.S. malls are struggling to fill storefronts and attract shoppers who are increasingly hooked on e-commerce, malls that serve Asian American enclaves are seeing strong demand in the post-pandemic economy.
“Asian malls have survived because they cater to a need for community,” said Willow Lung-Amam, an associate professor of urban studies and planning and the director of the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Twenty minutes north, in Buena Park, Yena Kim and Jackie Lee, both 16, visit The Source OC at least once a month. On a toasty July afternoon, they sipped Macanese-style dalgona milk tea from Flippoly, a dessert and sandwich joint, and played games at an internet cafe called Ultimate Esport.
“At American malls, you kind of just go shopping,” Kim said. “Here you come for the entertainment.”
While many U.S. malls are struggling to fill storefronts and attract shoppers who are increasingly hooked on e-commerce, malls that serve Asian American enclaves are seeing strong demand in the post-pandemic economy.
“Asian malls have survived because they cater to a need for community,” said Willow Lung-Amam, an associate professor of urban studies and planning and the director of the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Asian malls in the U.S. are thriving post-pandemic, bucking a retail trend
Posted from nbcnews.com
Westminster
Orange County
Shopping
Economics
Posted 8 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."In the 2010s, the Westfield Santa Anita mall near Los Angeles began seeking out international retailers like the hot pot chain Haidilao and the Japanese cheesecake empire Uncle Tetsu to court the fast-growing local Asian American population. New World Mall in Flushing, which opened in 2011, boasts a bustling food court that draws customers from all over the country. Tangram features a futuristic 24,000-square-foot food hall inspired by the exuberant, neon-lit night markets in many Asian cities.
Lee, the executive overseeing Tangram’s development, said the mall drew inspiration from cities like Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok and Shanghai. It boasts an eclectic mix of Western brands, international retail and food chains, like Xiaolongkan Hot Pot, and emerging local businesses, like the egg tart stall NaTart.
Tangram requires overseas businesses to advertise in English on menus and storefront signs, Lee said, which helps create a more inclusive experience for non-Chinese shoppers.
“I’ve often had people come to me and say they feel very intimidated when they come to Flushing,” she said. “They almost feel like they need to have a tour guide with them. At Tangram, you can come in and feel right at home.”
CORRECTION (Sept. 8, 2023, 7:35 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the location of The Source OC. It is in Buena Park, not Buena Vista".
..."In the 2010s, the Westfield Santa Anita mall near Los Angeles began seeking out international retailers like the hot pot chain Haidilao and the Japanese cheesecake empire Uncle Tetsu to court the fast-growing local Asian American population. New World Mall in Flushing, which opened in 2011, boasts a bustling food court that draws customers from all over the country. Tangram features a futuristic 24,000-square-foot food hall inspired by the exuberant, neon-lit night markets in many Asian cities.
Lee, the executive overseeing Tangram’s development, said the mall drew inspiration from cities like Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok and Shanghai. It boasts an eclectic mix of Western brands, international retail and food chains, like Xiaolongkan Hot Pot, and emerging local businesses, like the egg tart stall NaTart.
Tangram requires overseas businesses to advertise in English on menus and storefront signs, Lee said, which helps create a more inclusive experience for non-Chinese shoppers.
“I’ve often had people come to me and say they feel very intimidated when they come to Flushing,” she said. “They almost feel like they need to have a tour guide with them. At Tangram, you can come in and feel right at home.”
CORRECTION (Sept. 8, 2023, 7:35 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the location of The Source OC. It is in Buena Park, not Buena Vista".
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