Friday, October 5, 2012

A Taste of Asia on Olive

A Taste of Asia on Olive


Over the past 30 years, this mile or so section of Olive between I-170 and North and South Road has gone from one Chinese market to dozens of Asian businesses, including restaurants, markets, a medical clinic and insurance offices. They are run by immigrants from China, Thailand, Korea, Nepal, Vietnam and Indonesia, among other countries.
Now these local businesses are part of a major step towards marketing the Olive strip as the epicenter of the region's Asian community as well as burnishing the image of Asian culture.
On Saturday, the first Asian Heritage Festival will be held in the parking lot of a shopping center on Olive, at McKnight Road. It represents the first fundraiser for the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis, formed early last year.