Tokyo Central & Main to Open in Gardena

Opening day at Tokyo Central in West Covina. (J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo)

GARDENA — A pre-opening of Tokyo Central & Main at the former Marukai supermarket space in Pacific Square, 1620 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. in Gardena, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4.

Marukai closed its doors on Aug. 2 after 11 years in Pacific Square.

In an announcement posted outside the store and online at www.tokyocentral.com, the store promised “a sensational Japanese shopping experience,” including toys, anime goods, kitchen goods, beauty items, health items, Hawaiian foods, snacks, candy, beverages, liquor, groceries, bento, sushi, rice balls, fruit, bread and pastries.

A second Tokyo Central & Main will open in September at 8111 Balboa Ave. (at Mercury Street) in San Diego. Hours for both stores are Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Gardena store can be reached at (310) 464-8888 and the San Diego store at (858) 384-0240.

Tokyo Central, which is part of Marukai Corp., opened stores in Costa Mesa and West Covina earlier this year. It seeks to combine three qualities — “traditional culture passed down in Japan,” “modernity and excitement of Tokyo,” and “qualities of the California spirit” — “to bring a new shopping experience to the States.”

Tokyo Central & Main also announced that it is “looking for energetic team members to help us fulfill our vision of promoting modern Japanese trends and culture in Southern California and beyond” at both of the new stores.

Positions include sales and customer service, creative staff for developing point-of-purchase advertising, cashiers and custodians. Send resumes to Nao Yamane, store manager, at nyamane@marukai.com.