HUMBOLDT — A local Asian grocery store and café located on Main Street is moving its operations a few buildings over and expanding into the restaurant business.
Jirafa Asian Store & Café is moving to where Big Lou’s Family Dining is now.
Irish Joy Salvador operates the business as the co-owner alongside her mother Vivian Salvador, and her sister Steffany Salvador-Federico.
Jirafa has previously operated out of a rental space at 639 Main Street. Originally, Salvador said they wanted to use the old space to create an additional restaurant. When the owners looked at the cost, they decided Big Lou’s, which was for sale, was positioned as a better alternative.
“Since I was 13 years old I have loved cooking,” Salvador said. “So we decided to go there, since it was only $350,000 for the whole building, then we don’t need to be renting for the rest of our business.”
She said the target for the grand opening of Jirafa Resto Asian Store is April 9, which is when their new menu and inventory will be ready. In the meantime, the restaurant is continuing to operate under the new ownership.
Salvador said they’ll be keeping “some” of the Big Lou’s menu, including the pizza, bubble teas and sushi, while expanding to Filipino, Japanese and Chinese specialties.
“The grand opening is both the restaurant and the groceries,” Salvador said. “For the new grocery we will add new Japanese foods – some chocolate (and) some noodles.”
While inventory is being moved, the grocery will remain open at the old location on Wednesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. As of April 9, it will be located through a door on the left hand side of the restaurant when customers enter.
Salvador said plans for the grand opening include a raffle and bubble tea samples.
