Asia Mall eyes Nov. 10 opening

Developers of the Asia Mall in Eden Prairie say they are planning for a Thursday, Nov. 10, opening of their 100,000-square-foot project, an Asian-themed mix of grocery, restaurant, retail, and office uses in the former Gander Mountain building along Technology Drive, east of Costco.

The opening comes 15 months after the City of Eden Prairie approved the project in August 2021.

It’s been a long and tough process, said co-owner Amor Zhao, primarily because supply-chain problems slowed down the project.

“We’ve tried the best we can to get it done,” he added, noting that Asia Mall will be about 75% leased when it holds that informal “soft” opening on Nov. 10.

The concept is similar to the food halls that are springing up across the country: a sprawling market that showcases numerous vendors and shops, most with a food theme. 

The local plan will be anchored by nearly 40,000 square feet of grocery space, the Asian Mart, on the main floor. But the enclosed mall will also include full-service restaurants, small-scale retail, a food court, and more – some of it on a greatly expanded mezzanine.

Longtime Eden Prairie residents and restaurateurs Michael and Mai Bui are among the Asia Mall tenants. Michael said their sit-down Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Mai, and food-court tenant, Bober Tea & Mochi Dough, both will have soft openings on that same Nov. 10 date.

He said Bober Tea & Mochi Dough will have a grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a DJ and dragon dance. Pho Mai’s grand opening will be Saturday, Nov. 19, he added.

Home Taste, Hot Pot City, Dosirak, and Legendary Spice are examples of other eateries that will be part of the mall, said Zhao, adding that the mall will feature foods from throughout Asia, including China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and Taiwan.

“We’re ready to serve this community,” Zhao said. “Come try us.”