Chai Market
Chai Market (formerly Chai's Oriental Food Store) is a multi-ethnic grocery store located at 2133 7th Avenue South at the corner of 22nd Street South. While Chai Market specializes in Asian imports from Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia; the store also stocks products from other continents for its multi-ethnic clientele.
Chais' was opened in 1973 by Peter Chaiprakob, a Thai-born Chinese-American, along with his wife. The couple earned a reputation for friendly, personal service which has cultivated generations of loyal customers.
In the mid-2000s the store was purchased by Thai-born partners Golf Suchodayon and Kay Sathianphatthanakul who modernized the interior displays and diversified with African and South American products and more fresh produce.
The store was bought in 2016 by Nepal natives Sam and Rose Pokhrel. On March 12, 2019 the store was destroyed by a fire intentionally set at the nearby former Hospitality Inn.
References
- Copeland, Christopher. (2006) "The Shrinking World: The flavors of the world have come home to Birmingham". Birmingham Magazine.
- Chambers, Jesse (October 27, 2016) "Chai Market marks 40 years of business in Southside" Iron City Ink