'I think it's awesome': Pan-Asia Supermarket officially opens in West Allis
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A new grocery store in West Allis opened on Thursday, July 24 -- and it's not only filling shelves, but a gap in what some say is a lack of easy access to Asian foods in the area.
The Pan-Asia Supermarket features more than 10,000 items from south, east, and southeast Asia, as well as a bubble tea counter, a sushi bar, and a sit-down cafe with hot meals.
"We did our research, and we found that West Allis is lacking the style of bigger-scale Asian store," said Manager Siew Tan. “So, we kind of wanted to fill in the gap and open our door to introduce an affordable and convenient one stop shopping experience for all the customers so that they can bring items, produce, seafood, from each and every corner of the world back to their dining table.”
Officials claim it is the largest Asian mart in Wisconsin, and on Thursday, the aisles were packed with hundreds of shoppers who came to check it out for themselves.
"I think it's awesome," said Customer Peter Kong. "For me to be able to drive literally five minutes away from here and just grab whatever I need, I love it."
Kong said while the convenience is a major factor, he was also excited to see the diversity inside of the store.
"I myself haven't seen so many different mixed Asian cultures in one place together," Kong said. "So, looking around and seeing, it's pretty amazing."
Another shopper, Peter Breitwisch, said he was surprised by the vast selection of goods.
"There are things I thought I'd never see or wouldn't see unless I went out of the state or even out of the country," Breitwisch said.
But for the half-Thai adoptee, Breitwisch added that shopping at the market helped him connect with his culture in a deeper way.
"In a way, this is almost restorative because it gives you a lot of the stuff you didn't have as a kid which is something I've really missed," Breitwisch said. "I'm looking forward to exploring more."
Pan-Asia Supermarket is open seven days a week and is located at 6910 W Greenfield Ave, West Allis, WI 53214.