They buy them as a family affair and staff the stores with family members, the old model that merchants in the US once followed with storefront businesses and living in an apartment above. Natives could do the same with a large enough family. Not a nice life as far as leisure time and not a luxurious one, at least for many years building up the business and paying down any debt but it leads to a very profitable asset in the end.
I doubt any of these business’s actually pay tax on all their earnings. Tax cheating is a way of life where they come from. Also many get preferential treatment for SBA loans. Foreigners ahead of citizens.