Asia Plaza Pharmacy
Established in 2013, this pharmacy is divided into two sections. One side is a conventional drugstore staffed with multilingual pharmacists. The other is stacked wall-to-wall with more than 600 colorful, fragrant medicinal herbs primarily used for making tea that will warm the heart of any enthusiast. “We’re a mix of Eastern and Western,” says manager Mandy Wang. “Each way of thinking has benefits to offer, so I’ve combined them together to do my best for our community.” Suite 130, 216-862-9688, asiaplazapharmacy.com
Flower City Gift Shop
A place where traditional meets modern — with an exceptional playlist. “I don’t stick to only one genre — I intermix it,” says owner Danny Zhang. “It’s a melting a pot of my experiences and what I love.” Established in 1994 by Zhang’s parents, the store has a selection as eclectic as his musical tastes with statues, lanterns, clothing, tea sets, dishware, lucky bamboo plants, incense and jewelry. Flower City doubles as a high-end head shop with intricate glass pieces created by local artists. “I wanted the store to evolve and become more modern,” says Zhang, who practices direct trade with artists and makers. “I brought in pop culture while keeping the integrity of our culture.” Suite 124, 216-696-6628, flowercity.com
Kimberly’s
Kimberly’s feels a bit like a Hallmark shop infused with a hefty dose of kawaii, or “cute.” If you love Hayao Miyazaki’s Totoro, this store may be your paradise with the cuddly, oversized creature in the form of stuffed animals, coin purses, mini-movie posters and even bouquets. Kimberly’s overflows with Miyazaki knickknacks, hair clips covered in rhinestones and other delightful Japanese pop culture goods such as a stuffed Pikachu, a tote bag with an illustration of a dog in between two hamburger buns and more. Suite 116, 216-280-6012
R & R Gift Shop
Folklore says the lucky cat is a sign of good fortune. Lucky for you, this gift shop has an impressive selection of lucky cat bobbleheads — even some made for a car dashboard — and a huge selection of kitschy mugs, tea sets, lanterns and Hello Kitty stuffed animals. On the flip side, the shop also specializes in traditional Asian weaponry, such as swords, daggers and nunchaku. Suite 122, 216-771-0088
Sister’s Gift Shop
Lanterns and kimonos hang from the ceilings and walls in this treasure chest of ornamental Chinese gifts and home goods started by Connie Zhang. Get lost browsing jade rings and necklaces in a large jewelry collection, jade statues of dragons and koi, or intricate shelving for collectables. Even if you’re just looking to upgrade to a nicer pair of chopsticks, this gift shop will have what you need. Suite 123, 216-404-5185
Tak Yuen Tong
In 1992, this traditional Chinese herbalist practice was established in Asia Plaza. Deeply rooted in the Taoist theory of yin and yang, owner Wing Lui works to determine the nature of patients’ imbalance and correct it through herbal remedies such as ginseng, which can be added to tea or water. “We try our best to help with traditional Chinese culture,” says Lui. Suite 108, 216-781-1838
