H Mart in downtown Urbana draws thousands during opening week

H Mart in Urbana, an Asian grocery store chain, was bustling with crowds starting at 8:00 a.m. on January 18.

URBANA – H Mart, the largest Asian grocery store chain in the U S., held a grand opening event for its new location in downtown Urbana on Thursday, Jan. 16.

The opening ceremony included a ribbon cutting, special speakers and traditional Korean dances, all of which drew bustling crowds, despite the cold weather.

Five to six thousand came on opening day, and the store has seen a steady stream of customers since, said H Mart’s marketing manager Douglas Kim.

Champaign resident Michael Stevens came to shop with his family on a Saturday morning. 

“We actually tried to come last night but the parking lot was rather crowded so we couldn’t find a spot, so we decided to try to find a time that was less busy to see what was here,” he said.

H Mart in Urbana has seen a steady stream of customers since its grand opening on Jan. 16. Anna Koh/Illinois Student Newsroom

 

H Mart offers a unique shopping experience with a variety of fresh produce, live lobsters, Asian pears, pork belly cuts, numerous kinds of ramen noodles and types of kimchi, exotic Asian snacks and more. The store also includes a bakery and a food court serving up authentic Korean cuisines, such as Tteokbokki and black bean noodles.

Kim said the opening of H Mart is a big deal to the vast Asian population at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“I think a lot of students are coming here, they were coming to us and they were so excited,” Kim said.

H Mart is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

crowds outside store
A long line of customers wait for the opening of the H Mart in January 2025. Reginald Hardwick/IPM News
worker loads supplies
A worker loads supplies at H Mart’s opening in January 2025. Reginald Hardwick/IPM News

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