Plans to redevelop the site of a strip mall built in 1956 on the south side of Denver remain uncertain in the face of community opposition.
The Asia Center at 1000 S. Federal Boulevard has been a mainstay for the city’s Asian American community for decades. The 19,000-square-foot structure has included such popular destinations as the Saigon Supermarket, Hong Kong Barbeque, and Kim Son Jewelers.
A company called Asian Center Development LLC purchased the property three years ago for $5.7 million and subsequently submitted plans to demolish the one-story structure located within the city’s Little Saigon Business District in favor of putting up a four-story mixed-use building.
The new building would house just under 100 apartment units on its upper floors and ground level retail space.
But a petition appearing on the site Change.org called “Save the Asia Center on Federal Boulevard” has argued that the mall should be retained, having served as a “touchstone for families and small business owners, offering a rich tapestry of shops, restaurants, and other services that reflect and celebrate our heritage.”
Thus far the petition has generated around 19,000 signatures.
According to city records, the original concept plans for the Asia Center property have now been withdrawn, although it is expected that an update of those plans may be soon submitted.
June 4, 2026
By Garry Boulard
