Details have emerged about H Mart’s plans for a new flagship store in Fremont, California. The Asian grocery chain is set to open its largest U.S. location at 43782 Christy Street, in a building that previously housed a Kohl’s department store.
According to the Mercury News, the Fremont H Mart will cover approximately 100,000 square feet and serve as a prototype for future stores. The two-level space will feature a grocery store on the ground floor and a food hall, bar, restaurant, and communal areas on the second floor. Carli Richards, spokesperson for Vestar—the company managing the Pacific Commons Shopping Center where the store will be located—said: “The ground floor will feature the grocery store, while the second floor will include a food hall, bar, restaurant and communal spaces.”
Last month, an East Coast group connected to H Mart CEO Il Yeon Kwon purchased the former Kohl’s property for $18.3 million in cash. This price was below the assessed value of $26.1 million. Construction is expected to begin by year’s end.
Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan commented on the project: “By implementing an ‘innovative reuse of a vacant large-format retail space,’ H Mart is part of Fremont’s story of companies ‘reimagining vacant commercial properties into destinations that generate jobs, amenities and lasting community value.’” Once finished, this will be H Mart’s second location in the East Bay.
H Mart entered Northern California in 2017 with its first San Jose store and opened another San Jose location in 2018. A San Francisco branch began operations in 2021. The company also has plans for an East Bay store in Dublin; however, its opening has been delayed and no date has been announced.
