Asian food vendors say shopping complex has banned them

Asian food vendors in the Central California city of Fresno are demanding an apology after they say a shopping complex banned them.

River Park Shopping Center told ABC30 the food trucks’ participation in the Farmer’s Market poses competition for restaurants in the mall.

“The fact that the words ‘no more Asian vendors’ came out of not their mouths, but via text, those words were said. There was no other way to say that what happened was racist. It was a stripping away of an invitation,” said advocate Christine Rose.

Rose said she wanted an apology.

In a statement to The Sun, River Park said it issued the ban because it has a commitment to its tenants to promote “loyalty to their brands and striving to cultivate an environment within which they can thrive. To this end, the River Park farmer’s market events, and other collaborations, are designed to complement the River Park tenants, not directly compete with them.” 

However, California Hapa Coffee told Fox26 that the mall does not have any Filipino, Cambodian, or Lao food outlets.

“The whole reason why I opened Hapa California Coffee was to showcase our heritage… and not feel discrimination or marginalization like I did growing up here,” said Hapa California’s Filipino American owner Jessica Piland.