Daiso to Debut in New Jersey as US Expansion Spreads
Daiso, which bills itself as the Japanese "dollar store,” is expanding on the East Coast by opening its first location in New Jersey as the number of retailers selling ethnic merchandise, from home goods to groceries, rises in the United States.
The chain is coming to 595 River Road at the Mitsuwa Marketplace Plaza in Edgewater, New Jersey. The grand opening is slated for Aug. 3 and will be the retailer's second store in the New York tri-state area, which includes not only the Empire State but also New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In March, Daiso opened a store in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York, at 40-24 College Point Blvd. at The Shops at Skyview. That was the chain's first East Coast location and there were patrons lined up for its grand opening at 4 a.m., according to published reports.
Daiso made its entry into the United States with its first store in 2005 and now has over 60 stores across Washington, California and Texas, "with more to come every year," according to the retailer's website. It has 2,800 stores in Japan and over 4,000 stores worldwide, the website said.
Daiso has attracted a cult following by selling thousands of products that are priced at just $1.99, although it also offers merchandise that's pricier than that. The retailer touts its "kawaii,” Japanese for "cute," designs.
The company isn't the only ethnic retailer with plans in New Jersey. American Dream Meadowlands, the mega entertainment-shopping complex set to open in East Rutherford, last week announced the Korean grocer H Mart will be one of its tenants.
"We pride ourselves on the quality, variety and uniqueness of our wide-ranging product line, which includes everything from stationery to cosmetics to home goods," the Daiso website says. "Get a taste of Japanese culture with our origami paper, calligraphy tools, obento products, sensu fans, and other traditional Japanese items."
