Seattle — By Mary Jo Manzanares on November 30, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Filed under: culture, food, International District, neighborhood, Shopping

Asian Shopping at Uwajimaya

If you’re looking for the ultimate in Asian shopping in Seattle, you need look no further than Uwajimaya, a family owned Asian supermarket in the International District.

It would be a mistake to think of this 60,000 square foot business as merely a super-supermarket. Its story began back in 1928 when Fujimatsu Moriguchi sold fishcakes and other goods from his truck to Japanese workers. He called his business Uwajima-ya after the town of Uwajima, adding “ya” (the word for store) to the name. Roughly translated, this meant store of the town of Uwajima.

The Moriguchi family was interned during World War II, and after their release moved to Seattle to set up shop once again, this time in Seattle’s International District. At first, the shop stocked local food items, but in the 1960’s the stock was expanded to include imported food from Asian as well as non-food items. The business hit its stride during the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, propelled to popularity by Asian visitors to the city, and it never looked back

In the 1970’s, under the ownership of the four Moriguchi sons, the market went through a major location and moved into a new building. 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, with a food court, bank, restaurants, bakery, optician, beauty salon, cell phone store, cosmetic shop, and bookstore located right alongside. Above the street level retail shops are apartments, and below is parking.

What will you find at Uwajimaya?

Seafood (the usual, as well as many things I’ve never seen before), produce (including some strange looking fruits and vegetables), 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 you may find that it will take a couple of hours to get through the store. It’s a sensory experience as much as a shopping experience.

You can find the weekly specials listed online, and if you’re ready to try something new, try the recipe search.

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. With its wonderful assortment of gift items, it’s a great spot for holiday shopping, too.

If you can’t get downtown, try one of their other locations, two here in Washington and one in Beaverton, Oregon. Or stop in at one of the Waji’s, their dining location at Sea-Tac airport.

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