To some, it’s a place to find the perfect snack. To others, it’s a literal taste of home.
With the grand opening of its newest location in Dublin on March 26, H Mart continues to prove that it is more than a supermarket. It’s a community.
This new installment is their first store in the East Bay. Founded in 1982, the name stands for Han Ah Reum, a Korean phrase meaning “one arm full of groceries.”
As the largest Korean grocery chain in the United States, its opening was met with plenty of excitement.
An estimated 10,000 people showed up for the grand opening, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Lines snaked around the Dublin Retail Center as customers waited for at least an hour to enter the store, which is located at 7884 Dublin Blvd. Many people arrived very early to be the first in line.
There was also a dance performance and ribbon cutting ceremony to entertain customers who waited in line, according to Kron4 news.
While the store specializes in Korean groceries, produce, meat and seafood, H Mart also sells a wide variety of other Asian groceries, including Japanese and Chinese cuisine. The store carries beauty products and other common commodities as well.
The Dublin H Mart also houses a food court with popular restaurants such as Daeho Kalbijjim, bb.q Chicken, Oh K-Dog, and Tous Les Jours. Each restaurant sells a different type of food, including fried chicken, beef ribs, hot dogs, and French-Asian baked goods.
Freshman Anna Truong used to go to the H Mart in San Jose all the time and was happy to find out that there would be a new H Mart opening closer to home from a cashier at the nearby 99 Ranch Market. 99 Ranch Market specializes in Asian groceries as well.
”I’ve been waiting to go ever since I heard about the construction happening from 99 Ranch,” Truong said.
Before the Dublin store opened, the nearest H Mart was located 33 miles away in San Jose, a long drive for the many Cal High students who enjoy shopping for H Mart groceries, but do not have the time to drive to San Jose.
The 27,237-square-foot plot that H Mart now occupies was formerly the Orchard Supply Hardware building, according to FOX KTVU.
Senior Armaan Suresh visited H Mart but missed the first day rush.
“I was driving past it one day on my way to the gym and saw that it would be opening soon,” Suresh said. “I don’t go often due to the major rush still there.”
Although Suresh has never been to the San Jose H Mart, he was glad there was one closer to home to quickly stop by to grab a snack.
“The seating and food court is very nice and spacious for friends to spend time together,” Suresh said.
The large food court comprise more than 30% of the store’s space.
Junior Diya Anand also visited H Mart after her friends told her about the store opening and after she saw more information about it pop up online.
“I buy their fruits because they have more variety compared to the other local grocery stores,” Anand said.
Freshman Skylar Kim also learned about H Mart opening in Dublin through social media. She said that she and her family, now visit the story every few weeks.
“It gets pretty crowded but I like to shop for Korean food, snacks and drinks,” Kim said.
Senior Hailey Yi, a longtime H Mart customer, said she frequents the San Jose H Mart every time she visits her grandma.
“[H Mart] is one of my favorite places to be,” Yi said. “As someone who is Korean I always get excited because I know my mom is going to make super good Korean food after going to H Mart.”
Yi and her parents have been very excited for the grand opening especially with the new store so close to home.
H Mart will be opening more stores across the Bay Area in the near future, starting with their largest location in the United States in Fremont later this year, according to FOX KTVU.
“The Korean community has been so excited for it to come closer to us because of how far the San Jose location is,” Yi said.
