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Chouas Market licensed for University Avenue storefront in Saint Paul

Chouas Market licensed for University Avenue storefront in Saint Paul

New Capabilities Saint Paul, MN local

A second location for the founder of Brooklyn Park's Global Grocery Market

2 days ago: Chouas Market license appears on state list

Overview

Updated 2 days ago

A new grocery license appeared on Minnesota's public list September 10: Xiong Choua, doing business as Chouas Market, cleared for food handler retail at 995 University Avenue West, Suite 129 in Saint Paul. The address sits on University Avenue, the commercial spine of the Twin Cities' Hmong community.

The owner record matches Choua Xiong, who founded Global Grocery Market in Brooklyn Park during the pandemic with her husband Kao Vue. The name and the owner both point to this being her second storefront.

Why it matters

If Chouas Market opens, Frogtown residents gain a walkable source of culturally-specific groceries along University Avenue.

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Key Indicators

1
Retail food license on record
Minnesota food handler retail license for Chouas Market at 995 University Ave W.
2
Total locations after expansion
Brooklyn Park's Global Grocery Market plus the newly licensed Saint Paul storefront.
40 mi
Delivery radius at the original store
Global Grocery Market delivers Asian and African groceries within 40 miles of Brooklyn Park.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

2020 September 2026

2 events Latest: 2 days ago
  1. Chouas Market license appears on state list

    Latest Regulatory

    Minnesota Department of Agriculture lists a food handler retail license for Xiong Choua, dba Chouas Market, at 995 University Ave W, Suite 129, Saint Paul.

  2. Global Grocery Market founded in Brooklyn Park

    Business Launch

    Choua Xiong and Kao Vue open a delivery-focused Asian and African grocery after pandemic layoffs and pay cuts.

Scenarios

1

Chouas Market opens for business on University Avenue

Likely Resolves by Jun 10, 2027

Discussed by: Licensing records and the owner's six-year track record running Global Grocery Market

The food handler license is already on record, clearing the main regulatory hurdle. The owner has run a successful Brooklyn Park store since 2020 and knows the specialty-grocery demand in the metro. What remains is buildout, stocking shelves, and a public opening. University Avenue's steady foot traffic and large Southeast Asian residential base support the case for a near-term opening.

2

Chouas Market license sits unused as the Saint Paul opening stalls

Possible Resolves by Jun 10, 2027

Discussed by: Small-retail licensing patterns; buildout and financing delays common in food businesses

A license establishes clearance, not a commitment. Small food retailers routinely push openings back for months while fitting out a space, wrapping inspections, or arranging inventory. If the owner decides to consolidate on Brooklyn Park, the University Avenue space could remain dark even with a valid permit on file.

3

Chouas Market becomes a Frogtown food destination

Uncertain Resolves by Sep 10, 2028

Discussed by: The owner's record of serving a 40-mile delivery radius and delivering 200+ culturally-specific food boxes for Ramsey County

If the store opens and matches the Brooklyn Park operation's emphasis on specialty Asian and African ingredients, it could draw customers across the metro the way the delivery service does. The Ramsey County food-box project shows demand for this kind of retail beyond the immediate neighborhood. Sustained local recognition could lead to longer hours, added staff, or a larger footprint.

Historical Context

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

2004

Hmongtown Marketplace opens (2004)

Hmong entrepreneurs converted a bankrupt factory on Como Avenue in Saint Paul into Hmongtown Marketplace, a market with hundreds of vendors selling produce, meat, herbs, and prepared food. It drew shoppers from across the Twin Cities.

Then

The market became an immediate draw, anchoring a commercial stretch that had little foot traffic before.

Now

It proved a Hmong-focused market could support a large retail complex in Saint Paul and set a template for later developments.

Why this matters now

Shows the precedent for Hmong food retail as a commercial anchor in Saint Paul, the same model Chouas Market is betting on along University Avenue.

2011

Hmong Village Shopping Center opens (2011)

Hmong entrepreneurs opened Hmong Village, a large market complex on the East Side of Saint Paul with dozens of stalls selling groceries, clothing, and prepared food. It became one of the largest Hmong markets in the United States.

Then

The market drew steady crowds and filled a need for culturally-specific food on the East Side.

Now

It helped establish Saint Paul's East Side and University Avenue areas as regional destinations for Southeast Asian food.

Why this matters now

Demonstrates that demand for Hmong grocery retail in the Twin Cities is large enough to support multiple major markets, the environment Chouas Market enters.

Sources

(2)