JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Jacksonville\u2019s grocery scene is going global. A number of big-name Asian markets have moved in, including Lotte, which opened last September, and Enson, which just opened a few days ago. Action News Jax spoke with local Asian store owners to see how they feel about the newcomers.<\/p>\n
From Enson Market in Mandarin to Lotte Plaza Market in Regency, national Asian grocery chains are planting roots across Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
Tina Pham, president of the Asian Chamber of Commerce of North Florida, said, \u201cI\u2019ve been here for over 30 years. I never dreamed of having that big of a grocery store in town.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pham added, \u201cFor the last five years, it just blew up, which is good, because the population is growing.\u201d She also shared a breakdown of Northeast Florida\u2019s Asian population: \u201cA little over 50,000 Filipinos in the community, and then we have Indians and Vietnamese.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Dragon Asian Supermarket, owner Selena Pham sees the appeal of Vietnamese food reaching beyond the Asian community. \u201cWe do have at least 30 percent of American customers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The latest census data numbers show Jacksonville\u2019s Asian population is around 5 percent, roughly 52,000 people\u2014the largest among Florida\u2019s major cities.<\/p>\n
Selena Pham acknowledged the effect of the new arrivals. \u201cAt first, it did slow us down. Everyone would like to try the new stores,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at Mabuhay Asian Market, co-owner Maureen Geronimo welcomes the new names. \u201cHonestly, it\u2019s a big competition,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But Geronimo said her Filipino dishes give her store a unique edge. \u201cThey can find more authentic food, like pancit, that they can\u2019t find in other big stores like Lotte,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
What you see on her shelves, from Filipino pantry staples to fresh ingredients, is more than just culture. It\u2019s clear demand for her sizzling meals that keeps customers returning to locally-owned stores like hers.<\/p>\n
Geronimo closed with a heartfelt thank you in her native Tagalog: \u201cTalagang, maraming, maraming salamat po,\u201d or \u201cReally, thank you, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacksonville\u2019s Asian population of 5 percent is outpacing the state\u2019s average of about 3 percent, highlighting growing demand for diverse groceries across the city.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/a><\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/a>]<\/p>\n