Local foodies looking to try something new and newcomers to P.E.I. searching for pieces of home have a new place to shop in Summerside.
Unique – Asia Food, recently opened at the corner of Water Street and MacEwen Road.
It’s proprietress, Grace Li, Immigrated to P.E.I. about a year ago under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and is originally from China’s Jiangsu province.
She did a soft opening for Unique starting on Aug. 16. A lot of her stock is still on order, but she’s hopeful it will arrive soon. Once that happens she plans to hold an official opening.
Li lives in Charlottetown but decided to open her business in Summerside because she sees a market here in terms of the potential for growth in the immigrant community. Also, there is already a sizable temporary foreign worker population she hopes service.
“In the future, many people like me will come here to complete their PNP. So, I think Summerside, will welcome many, many people here,” she said.
“I think here has potential.”
Unique sells a wide-variety of items that would cater to the Pilipino and Chinese communities especially, such as: candies, instant noodle meals, drinks, frozen whole and processed meats, sauces and other items typically found in a grocery store.
Li said she has enjoyed her time on P.E.I. and finds the people friendly. She hopes that if Unique proves successful in Summerside she will be able to open other locations on the Island and other parts of Canada.
@JournalPMacLean
