Mo’s Tropical Market’s Sweet Success with SBA
Mo’s Tropical Market launched in 2019 with the aim of building on a family legacy. After immigrating from Thailand to Minnesota, Mo Chang’s parents began selling fruit at the Minneapolis Farmers Market in the early ‘80s. Today, Mo has established herself as one of the first Hmong women to open a grocery wholesaler in Minnesota, with Mo’s Tropical Market and Mo’s Tropical Wholesale serving as a staple for the Twin Cities Hmong community.
Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, Mo’s Tropical Market primarily sells tropical fruits and vegetables from Southeast Asia and Latin America. The business saw incredible demand in its early years, so much so that they quickly outgrew their original space. With goals of expanding into a wholesale market, Mo Chang approached SBA’s resource partners for capital assistance, and guidance on purchasing a commercial property from the ground up.
In 2022, Mo’s Tropical Market received an SBA 7(a) loan from First Bank & Trust, and additional gap financing and consulting services from Hmong American Partnership (HAP), Neighborhood Development Center (NDC), and WomenVenture to secure a second location. Mo’s Tropical Wholesale has officially opened in their newly renovated 28,000 sq. ft. space in downtown St. Paul, which is nearly four times the size of Mo’s Tropical Market. In addition to retail sales, the wholesale facility features a commercial kitchen and deli, offering hot food, baked goods, smoothies, and ice cream.
With each passing year, Mo continues to grow operations, which has increased the number and diversity of customers shopping at Mo’s Tropical Market and Mo’s Tropical Wholesale. Mo employs over 75 people between both locations and is an active community leader in the Hmong community. This year, Mo was recognized as SBA’s Minnesota Minority Small Business Champion. Prior to launching her businesses, Mo had a 30-year career in public education, and frequently sponsors local events. She is the founder and president of the Chang Foundation, which supports community charitable work.