With the recent influx of ICE agents patrolling and detaining residents in our beloved city of Columbia Heights, our community has been able to come together to protect and continue to support our local immigrant-owned businesses, including the eclectic array of restaurants and grocers. An increase in fear and dread has put these businesses in a precarious spot, but now, with the pull-back of agents announced by the Department of Homeland Security, hopefully, everyone in Heights can help get the local economy back into motion, and these businesses can start to flourish again. Here’s a quick guide to some prominent grocery stores that can be found right here, either along or not too far from our Central Avenue thoroughfare.
Our first featured store is Dong Yang Oriental Foods and Deli, located on 45th Ave NE in Hilltop, the small town nestled in the center of Columbia Heights, on the west end of Central Plaza. Dong Yang is a family-owned Korean grocery (and accompanying restaurant) that provides a variety of Asian ingredients, unique sweets and dozens of authentic foods such as bulgogi, kimchi stew and japchae (a popular stir-fried noodle dish), along with many more savory favorites that can satisfy that home-cooked craving. The shop has been around for decades and still truly makes a regular impact on the hearts and stomachs of many, so make sure to find yourself at Dong Yang for a tasty meal, either made for you or made by you.
“I love that I can get unique treats and ingredients you wouldn’t find at a normal supermarket,” Sheila Thach (12) said. “ I always go there with friends to grab a bite and explore all that they serve, including my favorite bibimbap or kimbap.”
Looking for a place with flavorful and uniquely designed salt and sugar bombs? Come on down to the famous Golden Nuts, located on Central Ave NE in between 48th and 49th Avenues. This boutique grocery offers many Mediterranean delicacies from mixed nuts, spices and teas to perfumes and ornate Turkish tea kettles and coffee pots. The most well-known treat that Golden Nuts offers, however, is Dubai Chocolate — the deliciously rich chocolate bar with a mixed creamy pistachio, tahini paste and kadayif filling. Loved by many, Golden Nuts were one of the first contenders to hop onto this viral trend, as many have come down to Heights just to get their hands on this delectable treat. The Golden Nuts hasn’t stopped there when it comes to making the most top-notch desserts, though, as you may have seen some fascinating finds online while scrolling on your TikTok For You Page, like knafeh, a flavorful melted cheese dish with a crunchy nut topping served piping hot.
“I would recommend this to those who have a sweet tooth, or [if] you like trying new things,” Minneapolis resident Kaydee Miller said. “I would definitely say this is a great place to come to try out a variety of chocolates. They have a ton of Middle Eastern sweets as well and they have a lot of [different] candies that are not only wrapped but are also homemade in [their] bakery. Also, if you like coffee, they have a ton of great Biscoff, pistachio and chocolate-flavored coffee drinks that are super good.”
Last but not least is the vibrant Jerusalem Halal Market located just on the other side of the 49th Avenue bridge on Central Avenue. This relatively new grocery store features a wide selection of Middle Eastern products such as high-quality fresh Halal meats, many bulk spices and various imported canned goods and locally made bakery foods such as traditional Lebanese pita bread. If you are ever in need of crisp and mouthwatering ingredients to elevate your homemade Mediterranean cooking, try Jerusalem Halal Market instead of a corporate or chain grocer whose offerings aren’t nearly as high-quality.
Of course, the list doesn’t stop there, as there are simply too many to name and glaze on the printed page. In Central Plaza alongside Dong Yang, for instance, you can also find Loma Bonita Supermercado Panaderia, which hosts a diverse selection of Hispanic products and ingredients, and Peace Market, which is another Halal grocer specializing in Middle Eastern goods. Then there’s Pooja Grocers on Central Avenue across from Jerusalem Halal Market, specializing in Indian fare, and Cuernavaca Market down on 37th Avenue close to Northeast Minneapolis, a corner store that boasts authentic Mexican products.
We love to see our immigrant neighbors keeping our community alive and thriving by providing these fantastic brick-and-mortar services, so let’s show our appreciation in return by purchasing at these incredible grocery stores. And for some recommendations on local immigrant-owned restaurants, be sure to check out the Heights Herald’s feature spread from November of last year at HeightsHerald.org.
