Strip malls are a ubiquitous sight along nearly every commercial corridor in the city. But the Far East Center — a two-story collection of shops that sits on the southwest corner of Federal Boulevard and Alameda Avenue in Westwood — is so much more than just a strip mall. Behind its notable grand entrance and year-round celebratory decor lies the story of the Luong family’s journey to the Mile High City. As Lunar New Year approaches, we dig into the fascinating history of this shopping complex, which will be hosting its 34th annual holiday celebration Feb. 1-2.
How It All Started
Mimi Luong’s family was one of many that fled North Vietnam and eventually landed in Denver after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Once in the Mile High City, Luong’s father and uncles began making trips back and forth to California to buy familiar ingredients for family recipes from home. Along with other refugees who had come from places like China, Thailand, and Japan, the Luong family was part of the burgeoning Denver community planting roots along South Federal Boulevard for what would eventually become known as the city’s “Little Saigon.”
Following a couple of successful business endeavors across the city — including a grocery store and the city’s first Asian video store — the Luongs opened the Far East Center in 1988. The name “Far East” was a nod to the Asian diaspora represented in the community and is reflected in the shopping plaza’s grand entrance, modeled after the Japanese Torii-style architecture, along with distinct burnt orange-tiled roofs, Chinese guardian lion sculptures, paper lanterns, and signage in English, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
Some of the first tenants of the Center included a grocery store run by the Luong family, Nghia Luong’s tax service, and Truong An Gifts, started by Mimi’s parents and co-owned by her today. Over the years, many restaurants, nail and hair salons, and other neighborhood necessities have found a home at the Far East Center, which is a thriving community hub today.
The Far East Center in 2025
Today, the bustling marketplace is home to a grocery store, multiple bakeries (including Vinh Xuong Bakery, known for its cult-followed French bread), and several restaurants (Saigon Bowl, Pho Huong, and Viet’s), plus jewelers, accountants, Tea Hee Tea Shop (coming soon!), and of course, Truong An Gifts. Check out a full list of the Center’s current businesses here.
And while it has remained an epicenter of commerce year-round for more than 35 years, the Far East Center has also consistently acted as gathering place for community celebrations — from its staple Lunar New Year festivities to its Mid Autumn Festival, Saigon-Azteca Night Market, community cooking and painting classes, and more.
Hundreds of spectators watch a Lunar New Year lion dance at the Far East Center in 2005. (Donated to the Denver Public Library by the Rocky Mountain News)
Honor Through Historic Designation
In 2024, the Far East Center was added to Colorado’s Register of Historic Properties for its "significant cultural resources worthy of preservation." History Colorado also attributes the shopping plaza’s significance to its role in the economic success of the Asian community, its representation of the Vietnamese community’s migration to Denver, and its architectural presence. The Center is a beacon for the “Little Saigon” area of the city, which has recently been documented through the Little Saigon Memory Project, a collaboration between History Colorado’s Museum of Memory Initiative and Colorado Asian Pacific United. A documentary sharing these collected stories and history about this vibrant Mile High community is set to be released sometime this year. Stay tuned!
Special thanks to The Denver Post, Denverite, Rocky Mountain PBS, and History Colorado for their reporting and additional resources on this topic.
