'Different foods, different flavors': Largest Asian grocery store in Wisconsin expected to open July 24 in West Allis

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Foodies, listen up!

Pan-Asia Supermarket is getting ready for its grand opening on Thursday, July 24, located near the intersection of 70th and Greenfield Avenue.

The 36,000-square-foot building is expected to feature more than 10,000 goods from cuisines across Asia.

"I'm looking forward to it big-time!" said shopper Gloria Birkholz. "It's going to help everybody in the community and give them a different sense of things to taste."

Birkholz was one of dozens who stopped by the grocery store July 14 to check out the opening date.

"So, it's crazy how excited people are," said West Allis Mayor Dan Devine. "West Allis has seen a lot of unique restaurants open up and it's been very diverse, so I think this is going to compliment that and feed off of the foodie energy."

It's also expected to be a regional draw, as the company behind Pan-Asia claims it's the largest grocery store in the state.

"They're already saying they won't have to make their trips to the Asian marts in Chicago because they can just come here now. So obviously we're hoping they'll notice other businesses and other restaurants and things, and they'll learn more about what West Allis has to offer that they might not be currently aware of," Mayor Devine said. "Just a grocery store in general is a great addition to the community for food security and things like that, but having one that's so specialized and has such a unique draw kind of compounds that."

Shoppers can also expect fresh seafood, produce, a sushi counter, and a sit-down cafe featuring meals from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese cuisines, and more.

"I hope they're ready because I know there's a lot of excitement and I have a hunch that they are," Mayor Devine said.