The shopping landscape in Southeast Portland is undergoing a major shift as Hông Phát, the Vietnamese supermarket chain, gears up to open its largest store in the former Walmart location at Eastport Plaza. The space, a hefty 154,000 square-foot property, changed hands in a $20 million deal earlier this month, with the Vietnamese grocer planning to revitalize the vacated premises.
According to an OregonLive report, Brandon Wang, Hông Phát's founder and CEO, together with his business associate Hoang Nguyen, are the new proprietors of the sizable location. They intend to rapidly move to convert the former retail giant's space into Hông Phát's fourth and most ambitious outlet.
Walmart had shuttered the Eastport Plaza branch last March due to underperformance. Now, Hông Phát is set to capitalize on this commercial opening, providing a diverse range of products and services to its clientele. The store is expected to boast a vast food court with multiple fast food and takeout options, providing a variety of culinary experiences for shoppers, Wang told The Oregonian.
Wang and Nguyen's latest venture will not only serve retail consumers but is also slated to supply wholesale goods to local restaurants and other grocery outlets. They plan to occupy roughly three-quarters of the space—about 120,000 square-feet—with the remaining area available for lease to future tenants. The transformation marks a significant expansion for the supermarket chain, which opened its initial store back in 2003 and has since established a strong foothold within the community.
The sale was administered through Portland International Center LLC, inclusive of three business partners; Nguyen and Wang were joined by the Huot Family Revocable Trust in this acquisition, as The Sun affirmatively reported. Details on the projected opening date for this largest Hông Phát location have yet to be released.
Moving beyond the realm of commerce, the Oregon Department of Human Services has recently announced that Oregonians on the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) may apply for replacement funds due to food spoilage from power outages during the last winter storm. Those affected should file their requests within a ten-day window after the loss, and may need to substantiate their claims with documents such as proof of address and communication from utility companies, as acknowledged by The Oregonian.
