Hmong Eastern Health LLC licensed for retail food in Saint Paul's Hmong Village
New Capabilities Saint Paul, MN localNew business set to operate in a shopping center anchored in the largest Hmong community in the U.S.
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Overview
Updated 48 minutes agoA new Hmong-owned business, Hmong Eastern Health LLC, has been granted a retail food handler license by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, according to state records. The license, first observed on the MDA's public list on September 7, 2026, authorizes the company to operate at 1001 Johnson Pkwy Unit 33 in Saint Paul—space inside the Hmong Village Shopping Center.
The shopping center is a commercial hub for the city's Hmong community, which is the largest in the United States. If the business opens, it will join more than 100 stores and 17 restaurants serving a population that has grown through decades of immigration and entrepreneurship.
Why it matters
A new food retailer in Hmong Village signals continued economic growth for Saint Paul's Hmong community, who are building businesses to serve their own neighborhoods.
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Organizations Involved
A new Hmong-owned business planning to sell retail food at 1001 Johnson Pkwy Unit 33.
A major commercial hub in Saint Paul with over 100 merchandise stores and 17 restaurants.
The state agency that issues retail food handler licenses, ensuring businesses meet food safety standards.
Timeline
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License record appears for Hmong Eastern Health LLC
Today LicensingThe Minnesota Department of Agriculture public list includes a retail food handler license for the business at 1001 Johnson Pkwy Unit 33.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
Hmong Migration to Saint Paul (1975–1990s)
Following the end of the Vietnam War, Hmong refugees resettled in the United States, with thousands arriving in Minnesota as part of resettlement programs. Saint Paul became the primary destination due to earlier community networks and supportive social services.
The Hmong population in Saint Paul grew rapidly, establishing neighborhoods and social organizations.
By the 2020s, Saint Paul was home to an estimated 60,000+ Hmong residents, the largest urban Hmong population in the U.S., leading to vibrant commercial districts like Hmong Village.
Hmong Eastern Health LLC operates in a community that has built its own economic infrastructure over decades, and new businesses here are direct beneficiaries of that growth.
Hmong Doctor Opens Direct Primary Care Clinic on East Side (2026)
Dr. Maisee Lor, a Hmong physician, opened My Healthy Family, a direct primary care clinic on White Bear Avenue in Saint Paul. The clinic charges a monthly fee and aims to serve patients with high deductibles or no insurance, including undocumented immigrants.
Lor's clinic became one of a handful of direct primary care practices in Minnesota, offering lower-cost care to a diverse clientele.
It demonstrated growing Hmong professional entrepreneurship in health services, addressing gaps in the traditional insurance system.
The opening of Hmong Eastern Health LLC, while in the food sector, reflects the same wave of Hmong-owned businesses emerging in Saint Paul to serve their community's needs—whether health care or food.
