168 Oriental may seem just a small supermarket on first look but it's so much more. The family-run Asian supermarket, which constantly sports eager customers, also doubles as a multi-purpose restaurant.
Although the restaurant has been on Nelson Street for a number of years, run by different owners, the supermarket is a newer addition. The idea for multiple sections is intentional, with the owners referring to 168 Oriental as "little Chinatown”.
The aim behind the supermarket is more than just selling goods, the owner Catherine Ng and her partner George Lai see the Nelson Street hotspot as a haven for the Asian community, particularly international students who may live in the centre and feel homesick without access to their cultural produce.
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The idea for 168 Oriental to be multifaceted is also tailored to the Chinese community. Lai said: "As Bristol doesn't have a Chinatown like larger cities such as London and Birmingham - we aimed to create a similar atmosphere in Bristol, where the local Asian community can feel welcome."
Even the name of the store is intentional and important to the Asian community with Lai saying: "It’s unusual for a shop to be named with a number, but it's something we saw in the Far East that inspired us".
The number 168 has significance in the Chinese community, meaning "you will get rich" or "you will be rich along the way". George explained the importance of this, saying to see a Chinese person with a car number plate with the number four would be rare, as it signifies death.
And the shop is not only popular with Bristol's Asian community. The owners explained that social media and TV has also had an impact on the shop's popularity. "Tiktok encourages customers to come to the shop and try new things" they explained, telling Bristol Live that one product, Mochi ice cream, sold out in hours after going viral on the social media platform.
TV shows that use a cultural product to make a particular dish can also drive sales as often then demand will increase.
The Nelson Street store isn't the only branch of 168 Oriental - the family business has expanded with Catherine and George's son running a store on Park Street, whilst their niece also runs a branch in Exeter.
And the family business has plans to expand further. The couple hope to first see their Nelson Street premises expanded into the building behind to create a larger store before going on to open further businesses in Bristol.
168 Oriental stocks some of the most diverse and exciting products and everyone should take a visit to see just what the hype is about.
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