If your social feeds have been full of live crab tanks, ube shakes and long lines lately, there’s a good reason: Seafood City, North America’s largest Filipino supermarket chain, has officially opened its very first Arizona store. The massive market and food hall debuted on Thursday, July 30, at Chandler Fashion Center, and Valley shoppers wasted no time showing up, with some camping out in tents the night before just to be first through the doors.
What It Is (and Why People Are So Excited)
Seafood City started in 1989 as a single store in National City, California, and has since grown into a nearly 40-location chain across the U.S. and Canada, earning a reputation as the go-to cultural hub for Filipino communities. This is the brand’s very first Arizona location, and it’s a big one.
Matt Go, president of Seafood City, said in a news release that the company’s goal has always been to bring people together through food and create a place where everyone feels welcome, and that whether shoppers are searching for familiar favorites or discovering something completely new, their journey to experiencing Asian flavors starts at Seafood City…