Introduction
Near the Beaverton Transit Center along Lombard road sits a humble and simple store named Da Sing. The name itself tells something about the owner, an immigrant from Asia who managed to set up a store selling fish, crabs, vegetables and processed foods.
Description of store–external
Da Sing occupies approximately fifteen to twenty feet of store frontage, providng parking space for at least four including an extra space at the right end of the building. It has a store window plastered with signs and other similar cultural related signs, dominated by mostly red color. At the left side is the glass door containing little stickers pasted randomly. Pushing the door reminds one of a door when entering small-town shops where it simply takes you in right at the heart of Da Sing.
Description of store–internal
Da Sing's interior is humble. It is surrounded with simplicity for the customer who simply want to wander the eyes around. The rectangular vat of assorted frozen fishes lined-up vertically beside the crustaceans like the crab and shrimp.
Looking to the left of the vat, at eye level you will see the water tank filled with crabs. I was surprized to see their eyes moving in and out of their sockets. Water is pumped into the tank, a waterfall effect is created as the water flows out at the top and into the collection tank below.
Description of customers
Customers of Da Sing are mostly buyers of the fishes. A lot of them are immigrants coming from Asian countries. Communication is largely a matter of speaking simple english words decribing an item. The storeowner surprised me when he mentioned several words foreign to his native tounge showing his experience dealing with a variety of customers.
Picking up a fish, I held before placing it into the plastic bag. Took it to the storeowner standing behind the counter. He took the fish carrying it to the sink, got hold of the scissors and started removing the internal organs. He then handed over the fish back to me along with the bill.
Closing
Da Sing is typical store owned and operated by an immigrant. Most of its customers are immigrants as well. This match creates a feeling of being in a different place outside the sights and sounds of a mall or supermarket. Da Sing is great from those who want to experience what it is like to buy from an immigrant store.
