Miller Market opens at Miller Estates, aims to fill retail gap on Capitol Hill

Residents of Miller Estates no longer have to drive out of the neighborhood for basic groceries and household items following the opening of Miller Market on Capitol Hill last Feb. 19.

“We opened it today,” said Grace Gao, manager of Miller Market, through family friend Charlie Chen, who acted as translator. “Because there are no supermarkets in this area. A lot of people in this community have complained to us many times because it’s not convenient for them to buy things.”

Gao, who also manages the Miller Estates property, said the decision to open the store was driven primarily by tenant demand.

“The main reason [is] because she’s managing the properties here and also many of the residents, the tenants, [are] asking,” Gao said. “It’s going to be better. More convenient if there’s a convenience store.”

Miller Estates has 35 units, providing what Gao described as a built-in customer base. Beyond serving tenants, she said the store is also intended to cater to nearby residents on Capitol Hill.

“The main reason is for the convenience of [our] own tenants,” she said. “But also it’s going to be helpful for the nearby communities.”

The store stocks mostly daily necessities, including water and other drinks, cooking essentials such as soy sauce, vinegar, and oil, as well as snacks, laundry supplies, and dishwashing products.

“Daily items mostly,” Gao said. “Common household items.”

Miller Market is open daily, with staggered hours. From Sunday to Thursday, it operates from 10:30am to 8pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, it is open from 8:30am to 9pm.

The store can be reached at (670) 286-5678.

The opening comes amid ongoing economic challenges in the CNMI, but Gao said the focus is on service and convenience for residents who have long sought easier access to basic goods within the Miller Estate compound and the entire Capitol Hill community.