Developer: Asian market, food hall at Burnsville Center nearing finish line
Developer: Asian market, food hall at Burnsville Center nearing finish line originally appeared on Bring Me The News.
The Asian supermarket and food hall designed to transform Burnsville Center remains in the pipeline, three years after the plans were unveiled.
The Windfall Group initially said the the development, known as Pacifica of Burnsville, could open as soon as January 22, 2023, in celebration of Lunar New Year – a date that came and went while the project was beginning to move through the city's formal planning process.
In December 2023, the Windfall Group said the destination was on track to open at the end of the first quarter in 2024. A March 2024 press release advertised the food hall would indeed open very soon - before summer.
Now, over one year later, the project remains under construction and no opening date is set.
"The community is very antsy for this project," Burnsville City Council Member Vince Workman told developers last week.
"We're almost to the finish line," Christina Le, one of the project's developers, reassured city officials.
The Burnsville City Council voted unanimously June 3 to once again amend the city's $1.1 million grant tied to the redevelopment to allow more time for construction.
The extension sets a Jan. 31, 2026 deadline for exterior renovations, with interior work on the project set to wrap up this month.
"Yes, we have had our delays and so forth but we did not take any shortcuts," Le told the City Council. "We did not diminish any quality in the work that we've done. We've kept the quality high."
The Windfall Group, an international developer, is also behind Pacifica Square in Aurora, Illinois, which is billed as one of the largest "one-stop" Asian lifestyle centers in the country.
The development in Burnsville is planned to be anchored by the upscale Asian supermarket chain, Enson Market, and a feature a nine-vendor food hall, called Ate Ate Ate.
In a letter to the City Council dated March 5, Eddie Ni, with the Windfall Group, indicated plans to construct a two-story addition to incorporate patio dining and a landscaped plaza have been nixed.
"Instead of constructing a 15,000-square-foot addition, we aim to create affordable and inviting spaces for tenants while preserving parking," the letter reads. "The two restaurants originally planned for the addition will now occupy vacant mall units."
Ni also noted progress on Enson Market have been impacted by shipment delays from overseas.
Ate Ate Ate is designed to emulate Asia's atmospheric street markets, with a stroll through the food hall taking guests from morning cafes, to lunchtime spots and, finally, the evening-inspired segment, which will be complete with vibrant lights and live music.
Hospitality HQ, the food hall's operator, will oversee the curation of vendors.
The current vendor line-up includes Soga Mochi Donuts, which became Minnesota's first mochi donut business when it brought its Japanese-style treats to St. Paul in 2021.
Bulgogi, bibimbap and other Korean favorites will be served at Hang Sang Korean Cuisine and Nepal-style dumplings filled with seasoned meat and veggies will be the focus at Amazing Momo.
Other vendors include Asian-inspired ice cream shop ODAY Creamery, Niko Niko Boba, Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls and spots serving ramen, hand-crafted sushi rolls and sashimi and Mediterranean fare, according to Le.
A central bar, called Urban Oasis, will offer self-serve beer and wine, she added.
"This really means a lot to us that you've been patient and waited this long," she told the City Council. "We're almost there."
According to Le, a grand opening is expected before the end of the year.This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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