By Beacon Staff
Ed and Rose Lacsa started living the American Dream a few weeks earlier than anticipated.
For the past several months, the couple has transformed the building at 3136 Sunnyside Ave. (at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue) into an Asian grocery store — aptly titled Midwest Asian Variety Store.
Two weeks ago, Ed and Rose opened the doors for a soft launch. They had planned to open later, but demand grew as word about the store leaked.
“People kept asking us, ‘When are you going to open? So we opened,’ ” Ed said.
The shelves are full of Asian grocery items that can be hard to find in more rural areas. The couple said their stock will be expanded over the coming weeks. However, many staples of Asian cuisine are already in stock.
“First of all, people like rice. Rice is very important for Asians instead of bread,” Ed said. “And we have Asian delicacies.”
Journey to Iowa
Ed and Rose married 35 years ago and moved to the U.S. from their home in Singapore around 2000. They are originally from the Philippines. Ed took a job at a company in Arkansas and moved his family to America.
Soon after moving to Arkansas, Ed and Rose began looking toward Iowa. They moved to Burlington four years after arriving in Arkansas, fully aware of how uncomfortable the winters could be further north.
“I wanted my children to attend Iowa schools,” Ed said.
Ed had been hearing Americans laud the value of Iowa schools ever since he arrived, and his research into the schools only proved their point. He found an engineering job in Mount Pleasant, and in 2009, he and Rose briefly tried opening an Asian grocery store.
“When the kids were young, we tried something like this, but we abruptly stopped because we’re so busy,” Ed said.
Ed still works as a structural design engineer in Mount Pleasant. Rose lost her job at The Great Wall restaurant when it permanently closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the perfect opportunity to try again.
“We wanted to adapt to the American traditions, the American way of living. And I think we did. Or we would have gone back,” Ed said with a laugh."
Aside from an expanded grocery inventory, the couple hopes to offer “to-go” food bowls and quick bite items like egg rolls and rice balls.
“We have to install some kitchen equipment first,” Ed said.
For now, the couple is telling all their customers the same thing — if they can’t find it in the store, they can order it for them.
“We buy most of our items wholesale in Chicago,” Ed said.
The service itself is all local, he said, adding: “We really like it here.”
Store Hours
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m. - noon