Uwajimaya has signed a lease to open a new location in Tacoma, WA. The new store will be located in the former Hobby Lobby space in Tacoma Central and is currently planned to open in 2027.

The Tacoma location is the second new store announcement in just six months. Last July, Uwajimaya announced it would open a location in Issaquah (the former Rite Aid location off Gilman Blvd), which is also planned for 2027. The team looks forward to engaging with local residents and bringing the best of Asian food culture to these communities.

The Tacoma location is also an opportunity for Uwajimaya to return to its roots. Uwajimaya was originally founded in Tacoma in 1928 by Fujimatsu and Sadako Moriguchi, who operated the store until the 1940s.  “Returning to Tacoma almost a century later is both exciting and deeply significant,” says Denise Moriguchi, CEO of Uwajimaya and third-generation leader of the company. “Uwajimaya was founded in Tacoma’s Japantown by my grandparents nearly 100 years ago until they were forced into incarceration camp at Tule Lake during World War II. We will honor their legacy as we re-establish Uwajimaya’s presence in this vibrant community.”

Stay tuned for more updates as we reach key milestones.

Photo: Uwajimaya founders (Fujimatsu and Sadako Moriguchi) with children (Akira, Tomio, Suwako and Kenzo) in front of the original Uwajimaya Store at 1502 Broadway, Tacoma, around 1940