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Double Dragon Foods drops off Minnesota's active license list

Double Dragon Foods drops off Minnesota's active license list

Money Moves Saint Paul, MN local

St. Paul's largest North End grocer was last listed Sept. 1; three readings since show nothing

September 3rd, 2026: Third consecutive reading without Double Dragon

Overview

Updated Sep 4

Double Dragon Foods, the largest grocery in St. Paul's North End, has dropped off Minnesota's active food license list. It was on the list when the state database was read Aug. 28 and absent from three consecutive readings since Sept. 1.

A lapsed license can mean more than closure, and the city publishes no license date, so the store may still be trading. But this business anchors a diverse immigrant neighborhood's food access, and the same store was condemned and shut down in 2018 before reopening within weeks.

Why it matters

If the North End's biggest grocery is truly gone, thousands of residents lose their closest full-service food option.

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Key Indicators

3
Consecutive license readings without Double Dragon
The store was on the active list when read Aug. 28 and Sept. 1, then missing from three straight readings.
18,000 sq ft
Store floor area
Roughly 18,000 square feet, making it the North End's largest grocery.
2018
Last closure-and-reopening episode
The city condemned the building in September 2018; the store reopened after about 10 days.

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People Involved

Bona Ku
Bona Ku
General manager, Double Dragon Foods
Store's fate unclear as of Sept. 3
 Che Ku
Che Ku
Owner, Double Dragon Foods
Store's fate unclear as of Sept. 3

Organizations Involved

Double Dragon Foods Inc
Double Dragon Foods Inc
Grocery store
License absent from Minnesota's active list since about Sept. 1, 2026

The largest grocery in St. Paul's North End, carrying Asian, African, Hispanic, Indian, Middle Eastern, and American goods across about 18,000 square feet.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
State Regulatory Agency
Publishes the active food establishment license list that Double Dragon disappeared from

The state agency that licenses food establishments in Minnesota and publishes the searchable list used to track whether a license is active.
North End Neighborhood Organization
North End Neighborhood Organization
Community organization
Community stakeholder in the store's fate

The neighborhood group representing St. Paul's North End, where Double Dragon is the largest food retailer.

Timeline

June 2016 September 2026

6 events Latest: September 3rd, 2026 · 1 week ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Third consecutive reading without Double Dragon

    Latest Signal

    Store absent from three straight readings; license lapse may indicate closure or something less final.

  2. Last reading showing the store listed

    Observation

    Double Dragon was on the active list when read this day.

  3. Double Dragon appears on active license list

    Observation

    First reading of the state list; the store was present.

  4. Store cleared to reopen

    Resolution

    After appeal and completion of a city checklist, inspectors confirmed conditions met and the store reopened.

  5. City condemns Double Dragon building

    Regulatory

    Inspection found wastewater leaks, rodent evidence, and electrical hazards; order to vacate issued.

  6. Stasny's Food Market burns down

    Context

    A smaller North End grocery with a popular meat counter burned; its butcher was killed and the store never reopened.

Scenarios

1

Double Dragon Foods permanently closes

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: No analyst commentary yet; this is the plain reading of a sustained license lapse.

The license never returns to the active list, and over the following months a public record confirms closure: a sale, a demolition permit, or the building sitting empty. The North End's largest grocery would be gone, pushing residents to smaller shops like Tiger Market or to longer trips.

2

Double Dragon Foods reappears under a renewed license

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: The 2018 precedent: the store fought a shutdown and reopened in about 10 days, suggesting the owners treat closure as reversible.

The owners renew or reapply for the license, and the store reappears on the active list, possibly after a brief shutdown or a period of trading while unlisted. This mirrors the 2018 pattern where the business came back after a city order.

3

Double Dragon Foods keeps trading without a valid license

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: License lapses can lag actual operations; the store did not confirm its status when the absence was noted.

The license lapsed for administrative or renewal reasons, but the store remains open and selling. This would be confirmed by a news report, a shopper account, or the owners' statement. It is the hardest scenario to score because no state record tracks whether the doors are open.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 2016

Stasny's Food Market fire (2016)

Stasny's, a smaller North End grocery with a popular meat counter on Western Avenue, burned down. The store's butcher, Stu Gerr, was killed in the incident.

Then

The store never reopened, leaving the North End with one fewer full-service grocery.

Now

The loss deepened the neighborhood's reliance on Double Dragon as its main larger retail option.

Why this matters now

It shows the North End has already lost one grocery permanently. If Double Dragon is gone, residents lose the main replacement for Stasny's.

September 2018

Double Dragon Foods condemnation (2018)

St. Paul's Department of Safety and Inspections condemned the building at 121 Maryland Ave W, citing wastewater leaks, rodent evidence, and electrical hazards, and ordered the store vacated. Inspections found 14 serious concerns.

Then

The store shut for about 10 days. Owners appealed, completed a city checklist of emergency repairs, and were cleared to reopen before the council hearing.

Now

The business survived and continued operating as the North End's largest grocer for another eight years.

Why this matters now

This is the same store, owner, and address now missing from the license list. It shows the owners treat closure as a fightable, reversible event.

Sources

(4)
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pioneer Press MapQuest My Annoying Opinions