San Francisco shoppers demonstrated their enthusiasm for T&T Supermarket's arrival by lining up for hours on Thursday for the grand opening of its first city mega-location.
The popular Canadian Asian grocery chain opened its doors in the City Center complex on Geary Boulevard, drawing massive crowds and celebratory lion dancers. The roughly 50,000-square-foot store is the company's fourth U.S. location since it began its expansion south of the Canadian border two years ago.
Some customers reportedly began queuing as early as 4 a.m. The new supermarket occupies a space previously intended for Whole Foods, which ultimately abandoned its plans for the site. The store is now stocked with a wide array of products, including live seafood, exotic produce, dim sum, and cosmetics.
T&T Supermarket, founded in Vancouver in 1993, has established itself as a prominent fixture in cities with significant Asian communities. Customers expressed excitement about the store's offerings, with one shopper telling KTVU they were eager to try the chain's "famous wontons and their crepes."
Another shopper, Carissa Fei, noted the appeal of grand openings for deals and the availability of fresh foods and diverse products, adding that the San Francisco location even features a cafe.