Asian Supermarket to Open in Fremont
A major Asian supermarket chain is set to open its largest U.S. location in Fremont, California. The new store will occupy the former Kohl's space within the Pacific Commons Shopping Center.
- The supermarket is a 99 Ranch Market, owned by Tawa Supermarket Inc., which was founded by Taiwanese immigrant Roger H. Chen in 1984. The company is now run by his children, Jonson Chen and Alice Chen. - This will be the second 99 Ranch Market in Fremont; another smaller location currently operates in the Warm Springs Plaza. - The choice of Fremont for the largest location is strategic, as census data shows over 62% of the city's population is of Asian descent. - The former Kohl's at 43782 Christy St. was one of five Bay Area locations the retailer closed by April 2025 due to underperformance. - 99 Ranch Market is the largest Asian supermarket chain in the U.S., with 66 stores as of February 2026, 43 of which are in California. Its primary national competitor is the Korean-American supermarket chain H Mart. - The chain's name has cultural significance, as the number "99" is a homophone for "longevity" in Mandarin.
