Photo: QueensPost
Nov. 15, 2013 By Christian Murray
A Japanese grocery opened on 44th Street today, across the street from the Sunnyside Post Office.
The store, called Taiyo Foods, is located at 45-08 44th Street and offers Japanese items such as noodles, rice, candy, beer, chips and cosmetics.
Taiyo is being launched by Hiroshi Hatasaki, who owns Ariyoshi Japanese Restaurant on Queens Blvd, and Toshiaki Takahashi, a Woodside resident.
Hatasaki said that the duo opened the store since there are a lot of people in the area—especially Asians in their 20s and 30s—with a keen interest in Japanese culture. “They like Japanese food, singers, music and animation,” he said.
In addition, Hatasaki said, Ariyoshi customers would often ask: “‘When are you going to open a grocery store?’’’
Taiyo will be open 7 days a week, from 10 am through 10 pm.
Takahashi is convinced the store will do well. “There are not many [Japanese] stores like this in Queens, most are in Manhattan,” he said.
Taiyo takes over the space that was last occupied by Queens Gyrotonic, which moved location in the middle of 2012 to 49th Street.
Toshiaki Takahashi and Hiroshi Hataski (L-R)
