Florida foodies, listen up and mark your calendars!
H Mart is finally opening up a location in Florida, with the new Orlando supermarket set to host its grand opening very soon.
“Orlando is home to some legendary parks and rides — but there’s a golden attraction on the horizon that might just take the cake: H Mart is finally coming to Orlando,” its social media post says about a Thursday, Sept. 25, opening. “We’re honored to become part of Orlando’s vibrant landscape and legendary surroundings — and we can’t wait to add H Mart’s unique charm to the mix.”
The new location will be 183,000 square feet in size, one of the largest locations of the chain. There will also be a food hall with several vendors offering everything from noodles to classic street food.
What is H Mart? What does H stand for in H Mart?
H Mart is the largest Asian supermarket chain in the country. It is known and praised for its expansive selection of Korean groceries, including fresh produce, marinated meats and live seafood. Shoppers will also find Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian staples, as well as in-house bakeries and food courts.
The supermarket was started in 1982 in Queens, New York, by Il Yeon Kwon, an immigrant from South Korea. According to the food blog The Kitchn, the H in H Mart stands for “han ah reum,” which means “an armful” in Korean. As in “an armful of groceries.”
As of Sept. 15, there are nearly 100 grocery stores throughout the United States. It was declared the seventh-best international food market by USA TODAY’s 10Best on Sept. 10 of this year.
Where is Florida’s H Mart going to be?
H-Mart will be located at 7501 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando, not far from Chinatown.
When does Orlando’s H Mart open?
H Mart in Orlando will open to the public at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25.
According to its social media, the store will host “special giveaways, exclusive promotions and unforgettable experiences” during its grand opening.
What vendors will be inside the Orlando H Mart?
According to its social media, the food hall will house the following vendors:
Will more H Mart grocery stores come to Florida?
As of Sept. 16, the H Mart website does not list any new stores coming to Florida besides the upcoming Orlando location.
What is the ‘Crying in H Mart’ novel? Grocery store is a part of pop culture
Some Floridian bookworms might have already heard of H Mart because of the popular memoir “Crying in H Mart” by musician Michelle Zauner. She is the vocalist of the indie-pop band Japanese Breakfast.
The book tells a story of family, food and grief. Zauner details her childhood growing up as a half-Korean in America and her struggle to find her identity. The book also touches on her complicated relationship with her mother, especially during her diagnosis of terminal cancer.
“Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner’s voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage,” its description reads on USA TODAY. “Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, ‘Crying in H Mart’ is a book to cherish, share, and reread.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: H Mart is opening its first store in Florida. Here’s when, where Asian grocery store will open
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
