Posted July 12, 200618 yr Suburb grocer worries Chinatown Wednesday, July 12, 2006 Robert L. Smith Plain Dealer Reporter At Ohio's largest Asian grocery, you can pick out your fish as it swims past and watch as a man in butcher's white nets it, clubs it and wraps it -- magician quick -- in waxed paper. You can choose from among oodles of noodles and buy the news from Hong Kong. In other words, you can shop much as you would at any of the three supermarkets anchoring Chinatown, the Asian-spiced neighborhood on the near East Side. To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4024 www.cleveland.com
July 12, 200618 yr I don't see the store doing too well, the Chinese supermarket concept is a niche market and just how many of the residents will give up Chinatown for this?? I think Chinatown is knitted tight enough where the residents and visitors will continue to support the locals as opposed to going for the "big box" store out east.
July 12, 200618 yr I agree that the article is a bit alarmist. I'm not happy about this, but I don't see it as the death knell for Chinatown. If anything, I think it should be a wake-up call to Chinatown merchants that they need to start marketing their *neighborhood*, not just individual stores, as a unique urban experience. And work with the CDC (St Clair Superior) to improve streetscapes. I'm not saying they should yuppify or get touristy -- part of what I love about Chinatown is its grit -- but perhaps its time to reach out to some new potential customers.
July 12, 200618 yr perhaps this is a reflection of a healthy growth of chinese/se asian immigration in the region? maybe??? the chinese culture remains fairly insular so i would think the chinese retailers would know best about that. good luck to them all. here's to hoping there is room enough for both kinds of grocery shopping experiences. also, for those of you budding home cooks and those that have not been, there is lots and lots....and lots...of good stuff in chinese and asian groceries. like fresh lychees, totally addicting. i encourage you to go check'em all out:
July 12, 200618 yr Plus it sounds like at least one of the grocery stores is going to modernize and grow which should help it compete with the suburban store. But I do think the new suburban store will do just fine way out there- the local east asian demo is actually pretty diverse and spread out.
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