Open Market Strategy
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
Rafu Staff Writer
Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Little Tokyo Market Place holds its grand opening, with an eye toward revitalizing the neighborhood economy.

Photos by MARIO G. REYES/Rafu Shimpo
A host of community dignitaries took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning to open the market.

Customers peruse the produce aisles at the Little Tokyo Market Place, during the grand opening Friday.

Japanese Consul General Junichi Ihara, left, listens as Little Tokyo Market
Place president Jin Soo Kim welcomes visitors and dignitaries.

A welcomed sight came to Little Tokyo Friday, as the supermarket in the shopping plaza at Third Street and Alameda was again bustling with customers.

The Little Tokyo Market Place held its grand opening at the Little Tokyo Mall with a host of local dignitaries and throngs of shoppers filling its aisles. Formerly Mitsuwa Marketplace–and originally Yaohan–the grocery store has been open under its new ownership since February. The new store features a mix of Korean products–reflecting the ownership by a group of Korean American investors as well as the increasing number of Korean American residents in the Little Tokyo area–along with Japanese and American fare.

Japanese Consul General Junichi Ihara was one of the luminaries on hand for the opening ceremony, congratulating those who have been working on the project to revitalize the mall’s long-stagnant economy.

“I think Little Tokyo will continue to be prosperous and keep its energy by having more and more diverse ethnic groups in the community, while keeping the legacy and the character of the past,” Ihara said. “We all welcome the grand opening of the Little Tokyo Marketplace because the leadership understands the importance of maintaining the character of this area, while giving more energy to this Japantown.”

Jin Soo Kim, the president of the Little Tokyo Market Place, said now is a perfect time to open a new market because regardless of ethnicity, we are all united by a culture of loving food.

“We opened this market, not just for Japanese, not just for Korean, not just for Chinese, but for all the Little Tokyo community and greater of Los Angeles,” said Kim, who has lived Japan. “We don’t care where anyone comes from, whether they’re Japanese American or Korean American. We are all the same: American. We now have a place where we can do business and help revitalize this community.”

Sharon Ogata, who worked at the market several years ago, was encouraged as she shopped by the excitement generated by the new opening. “It’s good to see all these people here. It was so empty for so long, so seeing it busy makes me happy,” she said.
During the busy morning, staff member Kathy Suzuki was diligently stocking Japanese seaweed products on the shelves, as she does most days. She has worked at the market since the day it opened as Yaohan in 1985 and said she has stayed because she likes her job.

“Today is a very important day for the future,” said Suzuki. “They held this grand opening and have been advertising a lot, so more people will come, I hope.”