Beloved Korean Grocer Hmart Coming to San Francisco

Fabled upscale Korean grocer Hmart is opening its first store in San Francisco. It’s the second in Northern California after a San Jose location that opened in Spring 2017. The new Hmart will fill a vacancy in the Oceanview Village Shopping Center, replacing the long-shuttered Oceanview Supermarket at 3995 Alemany Boulevard in Ingleside Heights, just North of Daly City.

San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development announced news of the new tenant this week. “Every neighborhood in San Francisco should have access to healthy, high-quality food,” said Mayor London Breed in a statement. “City and community leaders worked together to fill this vacant storefront, and I am excited that residents in the Ocean View-Merced Heights area will now have a neighborhood grocery store.”

The now more than 90-location Hmart chain was founded in 1982 in Queens, New York as a small corner grocer — the name stands for Han Ah Rheum, a Korean phrase for a an arm full of groceries. It’s known for its traditional Asian food staples, read-to-cook meals, and prepared foods.

As at many Hmart locations, the San Francisco Hmart will have a food court with Asian vendors. Stay tuned for details as Hmart prepares for its local debut: The business will renovate the old Oceanview Supermarket for about a year before it moves in.

• Asian grocery chain Hmart to open first San Francisco location in Oceanview/Ingleside Heights [Hoodline]