Maplewood Mall is set to become the new home for a Hmong cultural hub, as developer Toua Xiong lays down plans to transform the former Sears building into HmongTown 2, a vibrant marketplace celebrating Southeast Asian culture. Xiong, known for establishing the original HmongTown Marketplace in St. Paul, aims to replicate and expand the concept, bringing a diverse array of food, crafts, and culture to a second location in the east metro area. The proposal was detailed during a recent Maplewood City Council meeting, where the developer revealed aspirations to commence construction promptly with an opening date eyed for 2025, as reported by FOX 9.
Purchase of the 14-acre site was finalized on November 3, with Hmong Town 2 LLC, linked to Xiong's Como Avenue offices, listed as the property's taxpayer of record, according to Twin Cities. Featuring a large ground-level grocery and vendors above in the erstwhile Sears space, future plans even include to ambitiously add a bowling alley, children's area, potential senior center, herbal spa, and various market setups. In a declaration of growth and competitiveness, Xiong stated in an eight-minute video, "It’s time for us to grow... It’s time for us to be competitive. ... I have been looking for properties that would be big enough."
The expansion is not just a business venture; it's a nod to the substantial Hmong population in Minnesota. Minnesota stands as the home to one of the densest Hmong communities in the United States, with over half of the state’s 95,000 Hmong residents living in Ramsey County. The Maplewood Mall location is strategically positioned to cater to this community, as well as other burgeoning Asian populations such as the Karen from Myanmar.
With the Maplewood City Council seemingly expressing strong support for the project, Xiong also shared his aim to simultaneously kickstart a farmer's market on site, a component of the cultural experience that could possibly see an earlier start than the full marketplace. The rejuvenation of the decrepit Sears property is expected to inject new life into the mall and surrounding community, benefitting from the rich tapestry of Hmong culture. "The council seemed to show overwhelming support for the new HmongTown project," in a statement obtained by FOX 9.
As Xiong tours prospective vendors and investors through the vacated Sears building, signaling the coming transformation, anticipation builds. Maplewood, alongside St. Paul, prepares to embrace a new cultural landmark while bolstering local commerce and fostering greater understanding and appreciation of the Hmong heritage and its contributions to the fabric of Minnesota.
