squirrel235

"You'd pay at least $15 at Target."Both find the Links of London Sale at the 24 Mall friendly and relaxed -- casual even. Each time I visited, some shops were full of merchandise but not open. Many store owners have other jobs that demand equal time. Nearly all shopkeepers speak some English.Besides the scarves, shoppers will find a good selection of sweaters, perfumes, curtain panels, gold jewelry, shoes and rugs. When I asked for the price of an 8- by 11-foot polyester rug, I was told it was $250. I asked the saleswoman if she would take less, and she surprised me by saying the price included two smaller rugs.The traditional food court is replaced with informal, deli-type restaurants throughout, offering several pastry-type entrees and sweets. Sambusa, a tuna- or beef-wrapped pastry, and mandazi, a sweet fried pastry, are popular for only $1 each.The 24 Mall is the largest of Links of London Earrings Somali malls in Minneapolis.Not every mall has a buzz to it, but Hmong Village, which opened in October in St. Paul, already has it in spades. On a recent Saturday, young women wearing elaborate ceremonial skirts and aprons danced through the aisles as shoppers stopped to watch. It was an amazing paradox to see just as many Hmong shoppers dressed in Ecko jeans, Twins caps and leather vests.What you won't find at the mall -- a former school that now houses more than 250 vendors -- are the intricate stitch tapestries that used to be common among Hmong sellers at farmers markets. They took too long to make for too little return, said Thomas Yang of St. Paul. Shoppers searching for the intricate artwork can find murals by artist Ger Yang depicting Hmong life in mountain scenes from Links of London Y Charm.The Hmong mall seems the most Americanized. Besides a video arcade crowded with young boys, there are dollar stores, lots of jewelry and hair accessories, shoes and clothing. Shorter men can find pants with smaller inseams, and most shops offer alterations on the premises. Many health-service businesses have set up shop, including chiropractors, but many young Hmong women frequent the eyelash extension shops.Kristi Jackson of St. Paul shopped recently at Hmong Village for a combo not found at Southdale -- jewelry and produce."The jewelry is unique," she said, "but the quality of the produce is phenomenal, and the prices are reasonable."Farmers market shoppers will appreciate the large produce section open year-round with abundant supplies of Asian eggplant, bok choy, spices Links of London Z Charm persimmon, as well as more traditional peppers, mangoes and carrots.Just as American teenagers congregate at the mall with their friends, Lumina Xiong of North St. Paul does the same at Hmong Village."You meet up with friends, and when you're shopping, you're bound to meet someone who knows your family," she said. "It's a close-knit group."A long wing in the mall is devoted to Hmong restaurants, as well as Vietnamese and Thai. For a traditional Hmong dish, try the papaya salad or, for a fun dessert, the tricolor -- a tapioca in layers of red, green and white -- is a good holiday choice.There's a certain amount of kitsch at Mercado Central. On one level, it's a dollar store crossed with Spencer Gifts.