116. The Cultural Impact of HMart

But Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle

We've chatted many times before on the pod about how food has such an intimate connection with culture. Food can evoke so many strong memories and strengthen the feeling of connection with your culture. So as one of the main sources of Asian groceries in the US, what does HMart's meteoric rise in the US mean to us as Asian-Americans?

In this episode, we bring you through a brief history of HMart and its massive expansion across the US, and delve into how the experience of shopping at HMart differs from that of both western grocery chains like Kroger, as well as that of other specialty grocery chains like 99 Ranch Market. We also discuss how the experience at HMart presents a unique melting pot of different kinds of shoppers, from ajummas who immigrated from Korea to young Asian-Americans trying to connect with their cultural roots.

With the proliferation of specialty grocery stores like HMart providing access to cultural connection points to more and more people, we hope you can share with us your favorite memory of shopping at HMart or another specialty grocery store. Sound off in our social media comments with your favorite memory!

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