Happy Thyme Asian Market, a new Asian market that offers a wide selection of food and snacks, opened in St. Cloud. Soon it will be serving food from its new restaurant – that will be located in the store. It also expects to open a food court in the coming months.
The store launched its soft opening during the last week in February and is gradually adding more sections for snacks, drinks, produce, frozen food and its new restaurant.
Happy Thyme Asian Market has specific aisles for chips, teas, spices, cooking supplies and other items from several Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
In the coming months, Happy Thyme will also add a Chinese restaurant and food court, owner Huitao Hong said.
Happy Thyme Grocery to open Chinese restaurant and food court
The Chinese restaurant will serve popular items like hot pot and dim sum. Happy Thyme is planning for a grand opening at the end of March, and the restaurant will open then.
Happy Thyme will be home to a food court, Chinese restaurant and grocery section with a range of cuisines.
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On the other side of the large store, a food court modeled after a city street will open this summer. It will feature “storefronts” for different countries, including spots for Korean barbecue, Chinese hot pot, a Korean-style coffeeshop and an Asian-style bakery, so customers can walk through and try a variety of foods.
“It has a different spot for each kind of food, and then if you want the Japan(ese) food, you just go to Japanese store… and then we have a seating area,” Hong said.
After living in Minnesota for 13 years, Hong, who is from China, said he grew tired of driving to the Twin Cities area any time he wanted certain Asian groceries.
Hong also hopes the store is helpful for the area’s international students who are looking for a taste of home.
“Some of the international students, they don’t have a car to drive to the cities, and then they want some, like, Chinese foods here,” Hong said.
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Leading up to next month’s grand opening, the market is also gradually adding its groceries sections. It is beginning to sell produce and many frozen meals and treats. Hong’s sister, who runs Munch Munch Mochi Donut in Waite Park, will also be supplying pastries for the store.
Happy Thyme sells many spices, snacks, drinks and cooking supplies from several Asian countries.
St. Cloud Asian market wants to introduce culture
While Happy Thyme can be a resource for the area’s Asian community, Hong said he hopes it also introduces other residents to new cuisines and cultures.
“We are trying to (introduce more people to) our culture,” Hong said. “More and more people, they know the Asian culture… When they walk in here, they can see the real Chinese food, and they have the Japan-style food and the Korean-style things here.”
Happy Thyme Asian Market is currently open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. for its soft opening at 3320 W. Division St.
Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Asian market opens in St. Cloud
