Upcoming: Little Mekong Cooperative Market
AEDA was founded to support Asian small businesses survive the construction of the LRT on University Avenue. AEDA fostered a vision of a Southeast Asian cultural destination built upon the concentration of Asian businesses near the State Capitol. We organized the businesses and in 2012 branded the area as Little Mekong. AEDA initiated creative placemaking strategies designed to preserve Little Mekong and develop a vibrant business and cultural district in the historic St. Paul neighborhoods of Frogtown and Rondo.
AEDA works to make real the promise that the LRT Green Line, which was built through Little Mekong, will generate economic prosperity and cultural opportunities to lift our neighborhoods. 10 years after the Green Line was completed, we are kickstarting a vision to redevelop AEDA's current home at 422 University Avenue West into the Little Mekong Cooperative Market .
Opportunities
Goals: Create a permanent marketplace in Little Mekong with enterprise opportunities for food vendors, artists, makers, and micro-entrepreneurs to generate broad economic development; celebrating the many cultures of the neighborhood, while uniquely providing representation of St. Paul's Southeast Asian communities along the Green Line corridor. Send us an email for a copy of the complete redevelopment vision.
Send us an email to request a copy of the complete redevelopment plans.
Great Location
The site is located at one of the most active and well-traveled commercial corridors connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Customer Base
It is less than one mile from the State Capitol and Downtown St. Paul and 2 miles from the Hamline University area.
Accessible
The area has multimodal transportation options such as LRT line, bus, bikeway, pedestrian, and car.
Good Mixture of Use
A mixture of land uses surrounding the site include retail, office, restaurants, cultural and public institutions, and residential areas.
Active Advocacy & Cultural Diversity
The neighborhoods have active community participation with a diverse mix of cultural groups such as AEDA, Frogtown Green, and Rondo Community Inc., serving local Southeast Asian and African American communities with a rich history in the area. Other emerging immigrant communities are also prevalent near and along University Ave.
Great Existing Businesses
The area is already a hot spot to get good Asian food and cultural goods. The little Mekong night market organized by AEDA helped boost the area’s vibrancy and built momentum.
Healthy Local Business Support System
AEDA, Neighborhood Development Center, and other local non-profit organizations specializing in supporting local entrepreneurial business development for immigrants and minority groups.
Setback Along University Ave.
Adding a few feet of setback along the University Avenue creates more space to allow the commercial activities to add life to the public space.
Food System Awareness
Like AEDA and Frogtown Green collaborated in 2019, there are vital interests in developing the local food system to promote environmentally responsible healthy food options in the area by working with farmer’s markets, restaurants, and local farmers, growers, and gardeners.
