The Small Business Administration (SBA) hosted their annual Small Business Week from April 30 to May 6, 2023. As part of this national event, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, and SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman traveled to the Twin Cities in early May for a series of events with local business owners and community leaders.
Justin Lipsky helped arrange a visit for the Second Gentleman and the Administrator at the Asia Mall in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Asia Mall is the first premier pan-Asian Mall of its type in Minnesota, offering a mix of Asian groceries, offices, retail, and dining. Since its opening in 2022, it has continued to draw large crowds as a unique, “one-stop” retail and dining experience.
The visit provided the leaders from D.C. a first-hand experience with this unique Minnesota business. The delegation spoke with Asia Mall owners Jin Chen and Amor Zhao as well as mall tenants Hometaste Restaurant, Dosirak, and Pho Mai. The owners shared their entrepreneurial stories and how the Asia Mall has provided a unique and exciting platform to highlight AAPI-owned businesses in Minnesota.
The hour-long visit provided the leaders from D.C. with insight into the strength of Minnesota’s AAPI businesses and the resourcefulness of our entrepreneurs. U.S. Representative Dean Phillips of Eden Prairie and Cam Bynum of the Minnesota Vikings were also in attendance.
In addition to visiting Asia Mall, the SBA also hosted an Immigrant Entrepreneur Roundtable and a luncheon award ceremony including conversations with Governor Walz, Administrator Guzman and Second Gentlemen Emhoff.
