A new international supermarket has opened in the Bay Area, generating a buzz on social media, particularly among influencers who shared an exclusive inside look at the first California location.
T&T Supermarkets, based in Canada, launched its Asian-themed grocery store in San Jose on Thursday at the Westgate Center, located at 1600 Saratoga Avenue.
Interestingly, the first visitors to the 55,000-square-foot store weren’t shoppers but content creators who got an early tour the day before.
Influencers roamed the aisles, equipped with cameras, capturing close-ups of popular Asian street foods and distinct items like Taiwanese-style sticky rice rolls.
On TikTok, people showcased various products T&T is known for, including $30 sushi platters, dim sum, bao, traditional sticky rice, and the much-discussed mango egg tarts.
A few were even seen enjoying the atmosphere, dancing through the supermarket and checking out the appealing Chinese crepe station.
One content creator, Yuming Lu, mentioned, “I feel that all the food here is chosen by locals,” underscoring a sense of authenticity.
Subsequent videos circulated online showed long lines of eager customers waiting to enter the store on its opening day, all excited to explore the wide array of ready-to-eat meals, Asian beauty products, fresh produce, and baked goods.
The store boasts thousands of items that represent a variety of Asian cuisines, from Chinese to Japanese and Korean, according to the company.
Shoppers can also look for exclusive items like pork soup dumplings, green onion pancakes, kalbi sauce, and Taiwanese sausage.
CEO Tina Lee emphasized that this location in San Jose has been highly anticipated, making it a significant addition to the community.
Lee stated, “We’re not just offering exciting, high-quality food; we’re exporting a new way of life from Canada: one that is food-centered, celebratory, rich in tradition, and committed to freshness.”
The grand opening marks the start of several Bay Area stores, with additional locations expected in San Francisco and Newark later this year, as well as a third one in Millbrae in the subsequent year.
Founded in Vancouver in 1993, T&T is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, and operates over 39 stores across Canada and the U.S., including its first American location that opened in Bellevue, Washington in 2024.
