Asian Shopping at Uwajimaya Village
If you’re looking for the ultimate in Asian shopping, you need look no further than Uwajimaya, a family owned supermarket in the International District.
This 60,000 square foot super-supermarket had humble beginnings. In 1928 when Fujimatsu Moriguchi sold fishcakes and good from his truck to Japanese workers. He called his business Uwajima-ya after the town of Uwajima, and then ad “ya” the word for store. Roughly translated, this meant store of the town of Uwajima.
The Moriguchi family was interned during World War II, and after their release they moved to Seattle to set up shop in the International District. At first, the shop stocked local food items, but in the 1960’s the stock was expanded to include non-food items and imported food from Asia. The shop was popular with Asian visitors to Seattle 1962 World’s Fair, and that success was a turning point in the business.
Under the ownership of the four Moriguchi sons during the 1970’s, the store moved to a larger location, and then went through a second expansion.
A trip to Uwajimaya today brings you to Uwajimaya Village, a mixed retail and residential center occupying three blocks. The store occupies a prime location in the Village, more than twice its previous size, alongside a food court, bank, restaurants, bakery, optician, beauty salon, cell phone store, cosmetic shop, and bookstore. Above the street level retail shops are apartments, and below is underground parking.
Keep reading to discover what will you find at Uwajimaya
What will you find at Uwajimaya? Seafood (many things I’ve never seen before), produce (including some strange looking stuff), basic food stuffs, imported Asian specialties (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese), yummy baked goods, candy, household goods, cooking utensils, beautiful teas sets, and more. The aisles are jam packed with goods, and I always find that it takes forever to walk through the store as I have to swivel my head from side to side, trying to get a handle on my sensory overload.
You can find the weekly specials listed online, along with a calendar of events listing demonstrations, special events, and cooking classes.
Location: 600 5th Avenue South, International District (map it)
Other locations: Bellevue and Beaverton (Oregon)
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 am-10 pm; Sunday 9 am-9 pm
While Uwajimaya is a great tourist destination, this is a real store for real people. It is popular with city residents, and an every day part of life for residents of the International District.
NOTE: Sound like a local – Uwajimaya is pronounced wah-juh-my-ya.
Photo credit: personal collection, wikipedia
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2 Comments
It’s really great to see such an inspiring story of a family that overcame the horrors of being interned to build such a prosperous business.
You made me chuckle when you commented on the “strange looking stuff” that they sell. You should check out the supermarkets in Tokyo sometime – I’m pretty adventurous but there is a limit to what I will try!
It’s a good family story, that’s for sure, and a wonderful part of the history and fabric of today’s International District.
And I’m always asking — what IS that?