By Lauri Lee
Northside Economic Development Coalition
Madison Oriental Market will be joined by elected officials, Northside business leaders, collaborative partners, store customers and community members to commemorate the completion of the store’s $477,000 expansion project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Friday, Nov. 8, at 11 am. The public is invited, and everyone is welcome to join in the celebration. Free appetizers and desserts will be served from 11 am–2 pm.
The expansion project was undertaken so that Madison Oriental Market could increase ethnic food access on the Northside. By adding more shelving and energy efficient coolers and freezers, it allows them to stock specialty groceries and products and carry more fresh produce, meat, fish and dairy to increase food access for people of Asian, African, Hispanic, Hmong, Thai, Cambodian, Indian, Jamaican and Philippino ethnicities. The remodeling didn’t increase the store’s square footage but did provide better space utilization to add a deli kitchen so complete meals and deli items can be sold for takeout or eaten in the new deli seating. Since many bike or walk to the store, the addition of more shelving allows them to stock basic household necessities as a customer convenience and save a trip by bus to get the items they need.
The store is owned by Kyle and Choua Lee and managed by their daughter Cynthia Lee. “We’ve always wanted to offer a greater variety of ethnic food at our store,” said Cynthia. “This expansion fulfills our family’s dream of being a small local grocery store that could serve the Northside’s many diverse ethnic communities.”
The expansion project was funded through personal loans, a City of Madison Healthy Retail Access Fund grant, rental space updates by The Alexander Company, MG&E and Focus on Energy. The organizations and businesses that have made this project possible are: The City of Madison; Martee’s Consulting, LLC; Northside Planning Council; Northside Economic Development Coalition and Kessenichs LTD. A Go Fund Me campaign (GOFundMe.com/MADisonoriental) was established to raise $50,000 from those in the community who wish to support greater ethnic food access on the Northside by helping fill the shelves with the expanded food and groceries needed for the new customers.
The store is located at at 1197 N. Sherman Ave. in the NorthGate Shopping Center. The store is open 9 am–7 pm, Monday–Saturday and Sunday from 10 am–6 pm. Their phone number is 608-240-0846 and they can be found at @madisonoriental on Facebook.