Oct 25, 2022 Updated Oct 25, 2022, 3:21pm CDT
Developers of Asia Mall expect to unveil their long-awaited shopping and dining destination in Eden Prairie next month. A soft opening is planned for Nov. 10, followed by a grand opening on Nov. 20, according to Caspian Group broker Marshall Nguyen, who's the main leasing agent for the project.
Between the soft opening and grand opening, Asia Mall will operate with limited hours and capacity — up to about 500 people per day — as the project officially gets off the ground. A group of investors purchased the former Gander Mountain store at 12160 Technology Drive for $7.2 million in January 2021, with plans to transform it into a mall-like hub of Asian-American businesses. The project won final approval from Eden Prairie officials in June 2021. Initially, the five investors — all founders of the Bloomington-based nonprofit Chinese American Chamber of Commerce — hoped to open Asia Mall last summer, later pushed back to this spring. But those targets were made impossible by supply-chain snags. "It took longer than expected because of shortages on construction materials and logistic issues, which we had no control of," said one of the investors, Amor Zhao. Asia Mall will be anchored by Asian Mart 88, a new grocery store selling fresh produce, live seafood and other items, as well as Hot Pot City, a Chinese restaurant. Other restaurants debuting within Asia Mall during the soft opening include Pho Mai, Bober Tea & Mochi Dough, CrunCheese Korean Hot Dog and Korean Dessert, Uni Uni, Dosirak, Hometaste and Legendary Spice. An insurance company and a salon offering rentable chairs to stylists will also be tenants. Less than 7,000 square feet between six spaces is still available, Nguyen said.
Marshall Nguyen of Caspian Realty
NANCY KUEHN | MSPBJ