New Japanese Grocery Still Open in Brookline Amid COVID-19

Editor’s Note: Maruichi is currently open every day 9 am – 9 pm and customers can get ramen and Okonomiyaki to go.

At first glance, you might not think the Gen Sou En Teahouse in Coolidge Corner had closed at all. The interior of the space looks almost exactly the same, and the Gen Sou En sign is still attached to the door outside. But large storefront is now Maruichi Japanese Food & Deli, a combination grocery store, café, and food stall spot that opened at 299 Harvard Street Saturday, February 8.

Maruichi has locations in Connecticut and New York also, but this is the first foray into the Boston market. At the Brookline location, shoppers can peruse sashimi grade tuna and salmon, Wagyu beef, and a limited selection of produce. There are also a few racks of nonperishable foods imported from Japan, ranging from sweets and snacks to oils and spices.

At the center of the front shopping area is the circular check out station, repurposed from the Gen Sou En merchandise display case. A counter nearby displays kitchen tools like knives on sale as well. So far, the grocery store is enjoying favorable reviews though customers have speculated about the effect of high rents, which contributed to the close of Gen Sou En. One customer wrote on Yelp, “Very badly needed Japanese store in the Boston area, and especially in the Brookline/Allston area. The area has a big Asian population but, for some reason, a real dearth of options. I’m specifically Japanese American, so this store is a godsend.”

In addition to the shopping opportunities, Brookliners can come by for a quick lunch. The café counter offers coffees, teas, and traditional café pastries like croissants. Further on, there are a few food stalls set up in the former kitchen, including Brooklyn Ramen and Hachiroku Okonomiyaki. At Brooklyn Ramen, the menu ranges from Shoyu Ramen with clear chicken broth and soy sauce tare, noodles, pork belly, scallions, bamboo shoots, and seaweed to Veggie Miso Ramen with veggie miso broth and soy cream, noodles, scallions, corn, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and seaweed. At Hachiroku Okonomiyaki, you can order savory pancakes in a variety of flavors.

On their Facebook page, Maruichi announced that they would be further developing their café offerings in collaboration with local spots Ogawa Coffee, Clear Flour Bakery, Korin Japanese Knife, and others.

If you’re still craving Japanese cuisine even after stocking up on groceries at Maruichi, nearby, you can also find Ganko Ittetsu Ramen and Gantetsu-Ya. Chef Ken Iwaoka runs both restaurants in the Coolidge Corner Arcade.

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