Whole hogs get roasted here every single week, and ducks hang glistening under heat lamps by the deli.
That alone would get my attention. Add banh mi near the front door, and I’m already interested.
The shelves carry foods from Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, and several African nations.
The produce section stocks lemongrass, Thai basil, yu choy, and seasonal mangosteens. Rambutan and lychees show up too when the timing is right.
The market occupies a large former supermarket in Iowa, and its owners have acquired additional space for expansion. Fishmongers will clean your whole fish and even fry it for you.
A Vietnamese restaurant inside serves pho and bubble tea.
I appreciate places that feed a neighborhood and a curious cook at the same time. This one went further, ending a long stretch without a full grocery store nearby.
So how does one building hold this much of the world?
A Neighborhood Waited Nearly Ten Years For This Grocery Store
C Fresh Market opened in January 2013 in the River Bend neighborhood of Des Moines. Before that, the area went almost a decade without a full-service supermarket.
The building once held a Top Value grocery store that closed in 2004. After it shut down, the neighborhood was labeled a food desert, which means fresh groceries were hard to reach.
Banks hesitated to fund a new store in a spot where one had already closed. So family and friends stepped in with early financing instead.
Later, the project received loan financing from IFF’s Healthy Food Access Fund. That made it the first store in Iowa funded by the federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
Simon Cotran opened the market, and the family’s background in jewelry helped support the store in its early years. Don Cotran now leads both the grocery and its restaurant.
That’s a comeback story with real groceries attached. A closed store became a busy community hub that also provides local jobs.
The workforce reflects the many cultures of the surrounding neighborhood. For a grocery store, that’s a pretty impressive résumé.
Next time you grab a bag of rice here, you’re also supporting a family bet that paid off. Not bad for a Tuesday errand.
Your Passport Is Optional, But A Shopping List Helps
Vietnam, Japan, Korea, China, and Mexico all share shelf space here. So do the Philippines, Malaysia, and several African nations.
The aisles at C Fresh Market feel like a world map you can push a cart through. Mediterranean and Hispanic ingredients show up alongside the Asian staples.
Packaging comes in bold colors and languages from all over the globe. Half the fun is spotting a label you’ve never seen before.
The grocery originally occupied approximately 20,700 square feet, and the owners have since acquired additional room for expansion. The shelves are packed tight, so some shoppers find the layout a little overwhelming at first.
A tip that works well is to bring a list but leave room for surprises. You might come for one sauce and leave with three snacks you can’t pronounce yet.
Hispanic ingredients are part of the selection too, alongside international frozen foods and refrigerated products.
For anyone who cooks dishes from back home, that variety matters a lot. For everyone else, it’s a fun way to explore new flavors without leaving Des Moines.
Staff members are known for being friendly and helpful with questions. Asking where something lives is easily the fastest shortcut through all those aisles.
Lemongrass, Bok Choy, And A Mushroom Wall Worth Studying
Lemongrass is not always easy to find in the Midwest. Here, it sits right next to Thai basil, fresh chilies, and bundles of yu choy.
The produce section is one of the biggest reasons cooks make the trip. It’s especially strong for Asian vegetables, and prices are known for being affordable.
Baby bok choy, fresh mushrooms, and dried mushrooms all make an appearance. If a recipe calls for something specific, there’s a good chance it’s here.
Regular American produce is available too, though the varieties are a bit more curated. You can still grab onions and potatoes while hunting for something more unusual.
Seasonal fruit is where things get exciting. Mangosteens, custard apples, lychees, rambutan, and durian show up at different times of year.
Durian deserves a fair warning. Its famous aroma can fill a room, so maybe don’t leave it in a hot car.
Shopping by season pays off in this department. Checking back every few weeks could reward you with a fruit you’ve never tried.
Home cooks trying Vietnamese or Thai recipes will feel right at home. Fresh herbs make a huge difference in those dishes.
The Fish Counter Will Clean It, And Even Fry It
Buying a whole fish can feel a little intimidating. At C Fresh Market, the fishmongers handle the messy part for you.
They’ll clean whole fish to your specifications. Even better, they can fry it for you right there.
That’s a huge help for anyone who loves fish but dreads the cleanup. No scales stuck to your kitchen counter tonight.
The market’s fish arrive frozen, which helps preserve their quality on the long trip inland. Iowa is a long way from any ocean, after all.
The selection includes plenty of fish many shoppers may not recognize. That’s a great excuse to ask the staff what each one tastes like.
In 2025, the owners outlined plans to expand the fish market into the butcher shop’s existing space.
The proposed changes would provide additional room for seafood and allow the butcher department to move into newly acquired space.
A smart move is to pick your fish first and finish shopping while it’s prepared. By the time you’ve grabbed noodles and sauces, dinner may be nearly ready.
Fried fish without the grease splatter at home sounds like a win.
Whole Roast Hogs And Ducks Make A Bold First Impression
Every week, the market roasts whole hogs and plenty of ducks. The hogs are Berkshires from Decorah, a town in northeast Iowa.
Roasted ducks hang on display under heat lamps. They make a very convincing argument for skipping dinner prep.
A whole hog is party territory, perfect for big family gatherings. The ducks are friendlier for a regular weeknight dinner.
The meat counter goes well beyond the usual cuts. Ox tails, chicken feet, hog heads, and beef shank are all part of the lineup.
Adventurous cooks may also spot pizzle, which is cow penis. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely a conversation starter.
Marinated meats save time too. Lemongrass chicken and honey-glazed pork come ready to cook.
Those marinated options are handy when you want big flavor with little effort. Toss them on the grill and you’re nearly done.
Planning ahead helps if you want a whole hog for an event. Calling the store first is the simplest way to sort out timing.
Either way, the meat department turns grocery shopping into something a little more exciting.
Grab A Banh Mi Before You Even Grab A Cart
Hunger and grocery shopping are a risky combination. Luckily, the deli counter here solves that problem fast.
Freshly prepared Vietnamese foods fill the case. Banh mi sandwiches, spring rolls, and rice paper rolls are all on offer.
Pre-made banh mi sit to the left of the entrance door. That makes them easy to grab on a quick stop.
A banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich served on a light baguette. It usually packs meat, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs into every bite.
Spring rolls make an easy snack for the drive home. Rice paper rolls work great for a lighter lunch.
The deli is also a smart way to sample flavors before cooking them yourself. Taste something you like, then hunt down the ingredients in the aisles.
Homemade tofu and kimchi are sold in the store too. Those are handy upgrades for meals at home.
For busy families, ready-to-eat food can be a lifesaver. Dinner and groceries in one trip is hard to beat.
Just try not to finish the sandwich before you reach checkout. That’s harder than it sounds.
Pho 515 Turns A Grocery Run Into Lunch Plans
Inside the same building sits Pho 515, a Vietnamese restaurant attached to the market. It’s run under the same leadership as the grocery.
Pho, the famous beef noodle soup, is the headliner. The menu also includes fried rice, pork chops with rice, and spring rolls.
Barbecue pig and duck appear on the menu as well. Bubble tea rounds things out for anyone craving something sweet.
Ordering happens at the counter. Then staff bring the food to your table.
The restaurant got a full remodel during the pandemic. That update separated the dining area from the grocery section.
One of the biggest stars here is the house-made kimchi from Pho 515. It’s sold in the market, so you can take some home.
A bowl of pho before shopping is a clever strategy. Nobody overspends on snacks with a full stomach.
Bubble tea also makes a nice treat while browsing the aisles. Chewy tapioca pearls and a full cart feel like a fair trade.
Lunch and errands in one stop saves time on busy weekends. That’s the kind of efficiency anyone can appreciate.
More Than Groceries Live Under This Roof
A full grocery store and a Vietnamese restaurant already make a pretty useful combination. But C Fresh Market has also played a bigger role in the neighborhood’s community development.
When the original project was planned, the retail complex included space for a jewelry business and a nail salon alongside the grocery store.
That jewelry connection makes sense with the family’s history. Simon and Don Cotran have extensive experience in the trade, and their jewelry operation helped support the grocery during its early years.
The market also developed an important partnership with the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families.
The center originally shared the development and worked to connect neighborhood residents with training and employment opportunities.
Today, the Evelyn K. Davis Center operates nearby at 1171 7th Street, under the leadership of Lutheran Services in Iowa.
Its services include employment support, financial guidance, and educational opportunities for people working toward greater economic stability.
That partnership reflects the bigger story behind the market. The project wasn’t simply about filling shelves with groceries.
It was also about helping a neighborhood regain access to basic services and create opportunities for residents.
For an area that once lacked a full grocery store, that kind of investment matters. C Fresh became part of a larger effort to bring everyday needs and opportunities closer to home.
Easy To Reach, Easy To Pay, And Getting Bigger
Finding C Fresh Market is simple. It sits at 801 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314.
The store opens daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. That schedule works for early birds and after-work shoppers alike.
A parking lot makes stopping by easy. The entrance, parking lot, restrooms, and seating are listed as wheelchair accessible.
Paying is flexible too. Credit cards, SNAP/EBT, and mobile payments are all accepted.
Can’t make the trip? The market supports online ordering and offers delivery in Iowa.
The owners outlined ambitious expansion plans in 2025. At the time, they reported acquiring an additional 10,000 square feet and a separate warehouse.
Their plans included relocating the butcher shop and expanding the fish market, along with adding more cooked food for carryout.
Those changes were intended to create more room for shoppers and additional prepared-food options. Visitors should check with the market for the latest renovation updates.
The deli and Pho 515 already set a tasty example of what the market can offer beyond ordinary groceries.
Over a decade after opening, C Fresh Market continues to play an important role in feeding Des Moines.
Bring a big appetite for discovery, and maybe a bigger trunk.