The long-awaited opening of a grocery store at Bay Street Emeryville is finally here – on Saturday, Jan. 31, Tokyo Central opens its doors to the public. Now, people can grab fresh-cut sushi, hand rolls, bentos, baked Japanese yams, grocery items, eye masks, Zojirushi rice cookers, Japanese beer, and a whole lot more all in one, expansive location.
Since at least 2021, Emeryville’s planning commission has been eyeing a grocery store for the location. Several shops were once in that area: a Kara’s Cupcakes, an EQ3 furniture store, a Pizza My Heart, a Red Mango. After those closed, there were rumors that Amazon Fresh was moving in. Tokyo Central was finally announced in 2024. Long before Bay Street existed, the location was home to Ohlone shellmounds.
During the store’s soft opening on Thursday, staff members greeted each customer, handed out coupons and a flyer promoting the grand opening this weekend. A few customers seemed like they had never been inside the Japanese grocery chain, peering at the different imported ingredients. Others seemed familiar; for example, the store was already out of egg salad sandwiches, the convenience store-style ones that have gone viral. (Tokyo Central carries ones made by Andersen Bakery.)
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