Latest news with #TinaLee
Los Angeles Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Popular Canadian Asian grocery chain to open in Irvine next year
Canada's largest Asian grocery chain is continuing its expansion into California with plans to open a new location in Irvine early next year. It will be among the first storefronts in the state for T&T Supermarket, which has more than 33 stores in Vancouver, Toronto and other Canadian cities. The supermarket is popular in Canada for fresh produce and a variety of hot food cooked on site, including Asian street food and staples such as Peking Duck. The store in Irvine will also offer Asian wines and spirits and T&T private label products. Its bakery will sell viral Asian treats, including lava mochi puffs and Napoleon Portuguese egg tarts. Orange County's 34,000-square-foot T&T Supermarket will anchor a new restaurant and retail development in the Great Park community called the Canopy at Great Park, according to a statement from the company. The Canopy, which is being built by Southern California real estate developer Almquist, will feature 90,000 square feet of shopping, dining and public space. The location is slated to open in winter of 2026, the chain said. The first U.S. location opened in Bellevue, Wash., in December 2024, and the company also has plans to open stores in San Francisco and San Jose by the end of next year. 'Ever since we announced our U.S. entry, we have been getting customer requests all across the United States,' T&T Chief Executive Tina Lee said in a statement. 'I know T&T may not be well-known in Irvine, but we are excited to surprise our shoppers with a unique shopping experience.' Irvine's T&T is likely to face competition, as popular Asian markets including H Mart and Mitsuwa Marketplace are already established in the area. Southern California shoppers can also frequent 99 Ranch, which has a location in Westwood, and Zion Market, which has locations in Koreatown and San Diego. Irvine's population of more than 300,000 is nearly 45% Asian. T&T Supermarket first opened in British Columbia in 1993 and is currently run by the founder's daughter, Lee, who took over in 2014. Canadian retailer Loblaw Companies acquired the chain in 2009, though it is operated as an independent subsidiary.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada's biggest Asian supermarket opening second Bay Area location
The Brief Canada-based Asian retailer T&T Supermarket announced it will open a location in San Francisco. The store will be the chain's fourth U.S. location and second in California. T&T Supermarket offers a wide variety of delicacies, from pork soup dumplings (xiao long bao) to green onion pancakes. SAN FRANCISCO - Canada's largest Asian supermarket hopes to expand its presence in the Bay Area with a second location. What they're saying T&T Supermarket announced Friday that it will open a store in San Francisco at 2675 Geary Blvd. The store is set to open in winter 2026 and will be located between the Pacific Heights and Richmond districts. "The city offers a unique and eclectic food scene, and the neighborhood we've chosen is a vibrant retail hub," T&T CEO Tina Lee said. "We're looking forward to serving food-loving San Franciscans with our fresh foods, delicious meals, and baked goods. I think our neighbors at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and the University of San Francisco are going to discover this is a great spot for lunch or for bringing something tasty home after work. San Francisco is on the rise, and we're excited to be part of its next chapter." What we know T&T previously announced plans for a San Jose location at Westgate Center, set to open in fall 2025. The San Jose and San Francisco locations will be T&T's only stores in California. The supermarket made its U.S. debut in December with a store in Bellevue, Washington. There are plans for another in Lynwood, Washington. T&T offers a variety of Asian snacks and foods, including pork soup dumplings (xiao long bao), Korean kalbi marinade, green onion pancakes, and seaweed snacks. The Source T&T Supermarket
Axios
31-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Canada's largest Asian grocer is betting big on SF
The largest Asian supermarket in Canada is coming to San Francisco. Why it matters: The announcement from T&T Supermarket is the latest indicator that retailers still see long-term potential in the city despite an exodus of businesses during COVID. Driving the news: T&T plans to open a new store at San Francisco City Center (2675 Geary Blvd.) in winter 2026. It will mark the chain's fourth U.S. location and second Bay Area store after Westgate Center in San José, which is projected to launch in the fall. Its first U.S. store opened in Bellevue, Washington last year. A second one is planned for Lynwood, Washington this summer. Zoom in: The store will offer a wide variety of food options and services, ranging from T&T Private Label products like soup dumplings and Korean kalbi marinade to fast casual restaurant offerings and pastries at its bakery. There will also be an extensive selection of wines and spirits, with a special focus on Korean soju and Japanese sake. What they're saying: "The city offers a unique and eclectic food scene, and the neighborhood we've chosen is a vibrant retail hub," Tina Lee, CEO of T&T Supermarkets, said in a press release. "San Francisco is on the rise, and we're excited to be part of its next chapter." The big picture: T&T was founded by Cindy Lee, a Taiwanese immigrant to Canada, who opened her first store in 1993. It now operates 33 in the North America country.
