Japanese Grocery Chain Eyes California And U.S. Expansion
Marukai Corp., a Gardena, California-based Japanese grocery store chain, plans to grow across California over the next three years and eventually establish a national presence in the U.S. It has retained the services of RKF, an independent real estate firm specializing in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services, to assist in its expansion efforts.
Founded in 1965, Marukai Corp. established its first U.S. location in Los Angeles in 1975 and subsequently opened its flagship location in Gardena. In 2013, Marukai was acquired by Japan-based Don Quijote Holdings, which, in addition to its more than 270 locations in Japan, currently has 14 Marukai Market, Tokyo Central and Don Quijote-branded locations in California and Hawaii. Building upon its post-acquisition momentum, Marukai plans to open more than 50 locations on the West Coast, primarily focused on California.
Marukai’s stores offer a variety of imported goods, including food, health products, cosmetics, home furnishings, small appliances, electronics, stationery, clothing, pottery and assorted sundries. Marukai’s larger concept stores typically comprise 45 percent groceries, 40 percent non-food items and meat/produce, and 15 percent prepared foods. Smaller concept stores focus on non-grocery products.
David Friedman, a VP based in RKF’s San Francisco office, is the exclusive leasing agent for Marukai Corp.
“Although Marukai offers products that cater to the Asian population, the brand has wide appeal to the multicultural demographic of California,” said Friedman. “Their success in this market really demonstrates the brand’s ability to serve a broad range of consumers.”
Marukai requires approximately 12,000 to 45,000 s.f. of usable space in neighborhoods with a population of at least 100,000 people within a three-mile radius and 300,000 people within a five-mile radius.
