January/February

115 years old Japanese Grocery Store in Manhattan

Katagiri Japanese Grocery Store has been on a busy street in midtown east Manhattan at 224 East 59 th street for more than 100 years. Katagiri Japanese Grocery Store has been on a busy street in midtown east Manhattan at 224 East 59th street for more than 100 years.

Chihiro and Yoshio Katagiri, two immigrant brothers from Japan started a delivery business in 1903 and later they opened Katagiri Japanese Grocery Store in 1907. Back then 59th street and surrounding area was full of international food markets such as Fish Market, French Grocery Market, Coffee and tea company and so on. Now, 59th street is called a decorative street because of the D&D building and many other interior related stores but a way before these stores opened, the street was full of interesting food markets,but now we are the only food market still surviving on the street. New York’s nature of immigrants and food culture has been full of support for keeping this tiny Japanese market alive ever since two Japanese brothers opened the store back in 1907. Katagiri family had managed this store for three generations and the business was passed on to another Japanese family who owns a Japanese food and goods import export company called Central Trading Co. With Katagiri family’s will, Central trading company promised to save their name for the store and now it has been under KC Central Trading Co., Ltd.(Kamei Group) And we have been keeping the promise and expand- ing Katagiri Japanese Grocery Store. New store is located on East 41st street between Lexington and Park Avenue. The store has always been managed by a Japanese family. We have been serving authentic Japanese grocer- ies and goods in New York City. The love for food, dedication for Japanese food has stayed the same since two brothers opened the store more than 100 years ago. Just like we have been loving authentic Japanese food, New Yorkers grow their love to Japanese food as well.

hospitality news / January/February P 46