H-Mart coming to OKC

[mugofbeer]

At SW119th and Pennsylvania is a very nice World Fresh International Market. At 104th Google Earth shows a Saigon & Taipei Market that may now be a store called Metro Merch $1/$2 store - depending on which photo you use.

[Shortsyeararound]

No, World Fresh is at 104th. Saigon Taipei was what it was before it changed and before that it was a Homeland. Saigon was at 89th and Penn before that, which was a Pratts, a Homeland, and a Safeway.
I grew up in the area and my parents are still there.
On 119th and Penn is a Sprouts.

[mugofbeer]

OK, I am corrected. The point being World Fresh Market is a very nice international market.

[HOT ROD]

does seem weird to me that OKC seems to have trouble pulling national chains given the population size. Dont need to have a huge korean pop to attract a H-Mart, but OKC does have a large korean community, so even more head scratching. ....

[Shortsyeararound]

does seem weird to me that OKC seems to have trouble pulling national chains given the population size. Dont need to have a huge korean pop to attract a H-Mart, but OKC does have a large korean community, so even more head scratching. ....

I agree.
We are known as a fast food lovers paradise yet can't get an In-n-Out or a Culvers. Come on!

[soonermike81]

OK, I am corrected. The point being World Fresh Market is a very nice international market.

First, H-Mart is aimed more at the Korean population, although many other Asians shop there. And it’s been about a year or so since I’ve been in H-Mart, but it’s on a completely different level compared to World Fresh. Particularly in the cleanliness department.

[Triggerman]

I'm Korean and H-mart has been more popular with non-Koreans in recent years. I definitely see more non-Koreans at the Carrollton location now (and I've gone there since 2012). I just think it'd be great to have it in OKC (or even Moore) instead of other cities, because overall it's the capital and I don't go to MWC or DC except to buy kimchi sometimes at Ko Mart. Sure OKC has Chinatown and Super Cao, but Carrollton has a Super 88 Ranch nearby and both markets are constantly busy. But if they actually do open in the state, I ultimately won't care what town/city they choose, because it's getting more difficult to drive 3+hrs to Carrollton now that I am getting older

Did you mean 99 Ranch Market?

[Triggerman]

In the meantime, north of here in DFW, H-Mart announced two more stores opening: one in Old Koreatown in Dallas and one in Haltom City north of Fort Worth which will mean 5 stores total. I don't know the Korean population in the OKC Metro, but H-mart would be great

[mugofbeer]

First, H-Mart is aimed more at the Korean population, although many other Asians shop there. And it’s been about a year or so since I’ve been in H-Mart, but it’s on a completely different level compared to World Fresh. Particularly in the cleanliness department.

There may be a difference in cleanliness levels across the chain, then. Comparing the H-Mart in Aurora, CO (which l visited out of curiosity) vs. World Fresh (visited after eating at Dot Wo), the World Fresh was much nicer.

As to who each store caters to, l don't know.

[soonermike81]

There may be a difference in cleanliness levels across the chain, then. Comparing the H-Mart in Aurora, CO (which l visited out of curiosity) vs. World Fresh (visited after eating at Dot Wo), the World Fresh was much nicer.

As to who each store caters to, l don't know.

That’s a very good point. Cleanliness and maintenance will definitely vary based on the area of town, store volume, employees, etc. However, even though I’ve only been in 2-3 H-Marts, they felt significantly nicer than World Fresh. And I just feel their product offerings are very different. Definitely catering more toward Koreans, which I think OKC has such a small population that is spread all over the metro.