Popular Asian food hub Mekong Plaza is expanding
The owners of Mekong Plaza are planning to add more than 30,000 square feet to their shopping center, bringing more restaurants and outdoor dining to Mesa’s Asian District.
Mekong Plaza, a pillar in the Asian District, is located on the southwest corner of Main Street and Dobson Road. It’s known for its supermarket, as well as cluster of restaurants and familyowned shops including Thai Spices, Unphogettable, Hue Gourmet and Mekong Sandwiches.
On Jan. 27 Mesa Planning and Zoning Board approved the Mekong Plaza expansion, dubbed “Mekong 88.” The project now moves forward to City Council.
What is the Asian District in Mesa?
The Asian District in Mesa is an approximately 2-mile long corridor along Dobson Road where more than 70 Asian-owned restaurants and shops have sprung up.
The Asian American population in the census tracts surrounding Mesa’s Asian District ranges from 4 to about 11%, according to the Mesa Office of Economic Development.
In 2019, the city began soliciting feedback on how to promote the hub of
Asian food and retail in the neighborhood. The city later boosted the public campaign in early 2020 with the Asian District Night Market, an event with food trucks and musical performances held in the parking lot of AZ International
Marketplace.
What’s planned for the Mekong Plaza expansion
The expansion will be built on a vacant lot directly south of Mekong Plaza and use similar architectural elements as the existing building’s, such as pagoda-like green roofs and brick block columns, according to the landscape plan.
3rd Story Architecture based Scottsdale is overseeing the project.
Planning documents show the side of the project facing Dobson Road will feature an outdoor dining deck, pond and waterfall to mask the sounds of traffic. The project also has 106 additional parking spaces planned.
Planners are expecting similar businesses to the current ones at Mekong
in
Plaza and prospective tenants can contact property manager Steven Diep at stevendieprealestatesolutions.com.
Details: Mekong Plaza, 88 S. Dobson Road, Mesa. mekongplaza.com.