Asian Grocery Store HMart Set To Open Feb. 15 In Austin (Updated)

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Thursday's the big day: The long-anticipated HMart Asian grocery store is scheduled to open Feb. 15 — an unveiling that's been met with great excitement for many.

"It's finally happening," Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce officials previously wrote on social media. "The HMart grand opening is Feb. 15 at 10:30 a.m."

The store located at 11301 Lakeline Blvd. in Northwest Austin specializes in Asian foods. It's situated further north of the city's other Asian markets Hana World Market, Hong Kong Supermarket and MT Supermarket. A HEB Plus is located near the HMart as well.

The opening marks HMart's entry into Austin, with other locations in Houston and Dallas. A nationwide chain, the company was launched with a single location in Queens, New York, in 1982. Some folks have wondered about the name, which derives from Han Ah Reum roughly translated to "one arm full of groceries."

The 68,670-square-foot site is in space formerly occupied by Sports Authority and Bed Bath & Beyond stores features the range of Asian food and products with the centerpiece Market Eatery — a new concept for the chain that will include several smaller shops and eateries within the building.

A full-fledged Asian food court will be featured at the HMart. Among the showcased eateries:

• Lai Lai, featuring authentic Chinese cuisine.
• Mix featuring Korean snack food.
• Momo Sushi, a maker of (Japanese sushi).
• Snow Monster offering Taiwanese shaved ice, Boba tea, waffles and more.
• Sogongdong Tofu House, with Korean tofu soup and other comfort food offerings.
• Sunday BBQ with Korean barbecue.
• Sunday Bird featuring Korean fried chicken.
• Tous Les Jours, a Korean bakery.

Market Eatery also will serve beer, sake and wine. Non-food vendors include Cheong Kwan Jang, a Korean red ginseng shop; The Face Shop, a Korean cosmetics maker; Jessic Hair, a beauty salon; JDX, a maker of blinds and curtains; and Jessica Hair, another beauty salon.

Officials noted the store also is in a hiring mode, directing those interested to send resumes to austin@hmart.com.

Officials originally had set a mid-January opening for the store.

Related stories:

Popular H Mart Asian Grocery Store Chain Making Entry Into Austin Market

Asian Store HMart Plans For Mid-January North Austin Opening

The HMart opening is reflective of the explosive growth of the Asian population in Austin over the last couple of decades, described as "skyrocketing" by city demographers. The segment is diverse too, reflective of the breadth of Asian diaspora. That population segment has given rise to a thriving Asian food industry in Austin — including yet another Asian supermarket, 99 Ranch Market, poised to open later this year along North Lamar and Airport. Fun fact: The 99 Ranch Market will feature the chain's famed "Kula Revolving Sushi Bar," yielding Austin's first conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

Austin demographers have previously remarked on the growing Asian presence in Austin.

"The Asian share of total population in Austin almost doubled during the nineties, leaping from 3.3 percent in 1990 to almost 5 percent by 2000 and stands somewhere near the 6.5% mark today," officials wrote in the municipal website. "Like their Hispanic counterparts, the incoming Asians to Austin during the past 15 years are a much more diverse sub-population than what existed in Austin in the past. For example, thirty years ago, if you were Asian and in Austin, chances are you were Chinese and somehow associated with the University of Texas. Today, Austin hosts an Asian population that spans the socioeconomic spectrum and is sourced by several countries of origin, with India, Vietnam and China being the largest contributors."

According to local demographers, the largest Asian population segment comprises Indians representing 18.2 percent of the subset, followed by Vietnamese (18.1 percent); Chinese (12.2 percent); Korean (11.2 percent); Taiwanese (7.9 percent); and Filipino (4.5 percent).

The local Vietnamese population has been bolstered by an influx of residents from Houston, demographers noted: "Austin has become a destination, for example, for Vietnamese households flowing out of metropolitan Houston. This highly entrepreneurial population has opened new businesses, purchased restaurants, made loans available to its network and acquired real estate."

Clusters of Vietnamese household are most evident in several Northeast Austin neighborhoods, local demographers noted. The growth helps shed light on the business decision of HMart to enter the local market, where growth of the Asian population shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

"Amazingly, by the middle of the next decade, the number of Asians in Austin will more than likely exceed the number of African Americans," demographers wrote. "While the general population of Austin doubles every 20 to 25 years, the number of Asians in Austin is doubling every ten years."

>>> Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash