Sakura Market’s grand opening generates excitement in downtown San Jose

A snip of extra-large golden scissors slicing through a bright red ribbon ushered in the ceremonial opening of Sakura Market, a new Japanese grocery store and food market in downtown San Jose on Friday morning.

Read more Biopharmaceutical firm plans to close one of its Bay Area plants, lay off 25

Against a backdrop of enormous pink flower arrangements on easels and pink-and-white balloon pillars, business and city officials gave speeches to celebrate the new addition to downtown, while a line of people wrapped around the corner and down the street from Sakura Market, eager to collect on promised free giveaways.

The market combines aspects of the Japanese “kombini” — a convenience store offering efficient access to fresh food and snacks alongside household staples — with a cafe and dining options.

In one corner, there’s a sushi buffet where visitors pick out sushi pieces cafeteria-style, then purchase their meal by weight. Feel like ramen? Head to the three-minute ramen bar, where customers can make their own ramen packets up in real time, then customize them with additional toppings. A matcha cafe, Shiba Cha, crafts matcha drinks in another corner, while the rest of the aisles are lined with an array of dry, refrigerated and frozen imported goods.

There are also sections with hot pot ingredients, fresh-from-Japan sashimi-grade fish cuts, Japanese and Korean ice cream and dessert products, ready-to-heat items geared toward local student, and a whole area dedicated to Japanese beauty and cosmetic products.

Lastly, a bar offering sake and beer, lined with TVs for watching sports, is in the works. The team is waiting on the City of San Jose for the OK to open it, according to Sakura Marketplace CEO Kazuhiro Takeda.

Since the store first began its soft-opening three weeks ago, the reception has been “pretty great,” said Sho Okawa, grocery division manager.

Speakers said they hope the store’s opening will boost the city’s downtown vibrancy.

Read more Opinion: America is at war. Pete Hegseth is focused on beards and hormones.

Overall, foot traffic in downtown San Jose is up 11% year-over-year, according to Jennifer Baker, San Jose’s director of economic development and cultural affairs. “That’s a tremendous milestone,” she said. “I can tell already that Sakura Marketplace is going to hit the mark.”

Downtown Association CEO Brian Kurtz pointed out that the store’s name, “sakura,” translates to cherry blossom from Japanese, and represents renewal. “It’s a perfect symbol for what we’re experiencing in downtown,” he said.

People gathered to wait in line at the grand opening for a variety of reasons.

Anita Koyanagi said she was excited to see a Japanese-style convenience store arrive in San Jose after enjoying the efficiency and selection of 24-7 konbinis while traveling in Japan.

“That’s a big step for us here in San Jose,” she said.

Others were in town for a convention and had heard about the giveaway, and yet others were there to show support for the new addition to downtown San Jose.

“We’re excited to see more life come to downtown,” said downtown resident Duran Allison.

Sakura Market is operated by the team behind Osaka Marketplace, a grocery store specializing in Japanese imports, which opened its first location in Fremont in 2021, then another last year in Foster City. A third Bay Area location is planned at 155 Crescent Plaza in Pleasant Hill, and is expected to open this fall.

Details: Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily at 184 S. Market St., #120, San Jose; sakuramarketplace.com.

Read more Mt. Diablo BBQ opens inside Matt Horn’s old space in Lafayette