Meng Store cleared to open on St. Paul's Arlington Avenue

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

A new retail food store is cleared to open at 1355 Arlington Ave E in St. Paul. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's public records now list a food handler retail license for the business, called Meng Store.

The license is a regulatory go-ahead, not proof the doors are open. It does put another grocery option on the East Side corridor, and it signals that a new independent store is moving toward opening at the address.

Why it matters

A new grocery option on the East Side gives neighbors a closer place to shop—if the store actually opens.

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Key Indicators

Newly licensed food store

Meng Store holds a retail food handler license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Food handler retail

License type

State classification for retail food businesses that sell directly to consumers.

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Organizations Involved

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

State regulatory agency

Licensing authority

The state agency that issues retail food handler licenses to grocery stores and other food retailers in Minnesota.

Meng Store

Retail Business

Newly licensed, opening pending

A new retail food business at 1355 Arlington Ave E, Saint Paul, cleared by the state to sell food.

Timeline

1 event Latest: Today

September 2026
Food handler license on record for Meng Store
Today Licensing

Meng Store's retail food handler license first appears on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's public list.
Today

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1965–present

Immigrant retail corridors (1965–present)

After the 1965 immigration act, immigrant families opened corner groceries and small markets in urban neighborhoods across the U.S. These stores became anchors of their commercial streets, supplying daily goods and creating local jobs.

Then

Family-run shops spread along residential streets and became daily fixtures in many neighborhoods.

Now

Many endured for decades, though chain and big-box competition thinned their numbers over time.

Why this matters now

It frames a single new independent store as part of a broader pattern of small retailers anchoring a neighborhood's daily commerce.

2020–2021

COVID-era shift to local shopping (2020–2021)

During the pandemic, consumers shopped closer to home, and small neighborhood grocery and convenience stores saw a surge in foot traffic. Many residents relied on corner stores for essentials during lockdowns.

Then

Local retailers gained customers even as malls and downtown districts emptied.

Now

The experience reinforced demand for walkable, neighborhood shopping options.

Why this matters now

It helps explain why a new corner store on a residential East Side corridor has a realistic base of nearby customers.