China News Service, March 18. According to the US "World Journal" report, Los Angeles Chinatown has always been a "food gathering place" for many food critics.

However, residents living in the local community do not have a comprehensive, affordable supermarket, leaving many elderly immigrants who rely on public transportation in a shopping situation.

Aihua supermarket closed, residents in shopping dilemma

　　For these relatively low-income residents, the closure of the local Aihua supermarket, which has operated for more than 40 years, at the end of October 2019 has had a considerable impact on their livelihood. This has also led to a surge in hawkers offering high-priced, different-quality goods, while nearby bookstores , grocery stores have also put fresh fruits and vegetables on the shelves for local residents to buy.

　　According to reports, in October 2019, Aihua supermarket was closed.

More than two years later, Chinatown still does not have a retail supermarket that offers a full range of goods.

For more than 30 years, resident Vi Ha has walked from his Chinatown apartment to Aihua for shopping.

Since the supermarket closed, she had to take the bus to San Gabriel to buy fresh produce, rice and meat.

Food gathering places but no large supermarkets

　　The neighborhood's median household income is about $36,000, a little less than half of the county's median, and it's hard to find fresh, affordable milk and yogurt in a gourmet trendy area flooded with foodies , beef, pork, etc.

　　Located along Broadway and Hill Street, there are small markets that sell live chicken and fish, as well as Asian vegetables.

"We do have produce in our neighborhood, but there aren't rows and rows of fruit or a variety of fish to choose from," said Harry Chin, a retired chef who lives on Alpine Street.

　　There is also the issue of price.

In the bistro around the corner, cabbage costs three dollars a pound (about 453 grams), but less than a dollar a pound in most supermarkets, he said.

On one occasion, he was cruel and paid $20 for vegetables to cook in a hot pot.

He said.

　　Street vendors have also become a local concern.

Residents say they sell products of varying quality and high prices.

Some shopkeepers complained that they had displayed their items on the sidewalk, leaving piles of rubbish when they left.

Retailers who sell agricultural products are too expensive for Asians to afford

　　At the same time, some retailers also sell agricultural products.

A Chinese bookstore on Broadway that has long since changed to sell noodles, produce and household items.

Next door, Hugo Luu transformed the herbal shop he opened 13 years ago into a grocery store called Yue Wa.

Banh Mi My Dung on Ordr Street specializes in sandwiches. After seeing customers requesting to buy lychees and other products, it quickly added agricultural products, newspapers and magazines.

　　Residents say the neighborhood has enough space for a large supermarket and has vacant buildings, such as the Dynasty mall, which closed last year.

　　Los Angeles Chinatown has been home to several Asian supermarkets over the years.

Closed at about the same time as Aihua Supermarket, there are G&G Market and so on.

　　Property developer Gilmore bought the Aihua supermarket building and nearby stores for more than $15 million in 2018, when it said it would develop new supermarkets in the area.

However, Hill and College Streets remain deserted to this day.

　　Moore, senior vice president of retail at CBRE, said that so far, supermarket chains have lacked interest in Chinatown, preferring young, affluent densely populated areas such as the Arts District and Little Tokyo.

　　"Even Chinese-run supermarkets cannot enter Chinatown because of the disproportionate number of low-income residents," said Yu Yuqian, executive director of the Chinatown Business Development Zone.

　　A number of high-rise residential developments in Chinatown are currently in the pipeline, and it is expected that in the next few years, there will be retail stores, restaurants and nightlife in the adjacent area.

But community organizers worry that the prices or product range of these businesses may not be suitable for local Asian residents.