The Man Who Built Asian Malls in the Bay | California News

From Hong Kong to the Bay Area, John Luk turned a neighborhood’s lack of Asian grocery stores and community spaces into a booming real estate empire. Starting with Milpitas Square in 1993 — one of the first major Asian-themed malls in the region — he built over a dozen vibrant centers, including Lion Plaza and Pacific Pearl. Motivated by the growing Asian population in his area, Luk created hubs that served Filipino, Vietnamese, and Chinese communities with anchor tenants like supermarkets and banquet halls — personally vetting every shop by tasting their food. His malls aren’t just shopping destinations; they’re cultural anchors, drawing diverse crowds while offering pride, connection, and celebration to underserved communities. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/94059dd3cf821e9b