New supermarket coming to Lynnwood

LYNNWOOD — A national Korean-owned supermarket chain has leased a space just north of Alderwood mall, hoping to cater to south Snohomish County’s substantial Asian-American population.

H Mart signed a long-term lease for 77,000 square feet formerly occupied by Mervyn’s, according to commercial real estate firm Grubb &Ellis Co. Details of the deal were not released.

Founded in New York state in 1982 and now based in New Jersey, H Mart now has at least two dozen stores in 10 states, including a location in Federal Way.

Mervyn’s left the big space at 3301 184th St. SW vacant more than a year ago when the department store chain closed all of its Washington locations.

In addition to being near Alderwood, the new H Mart will be just west of the future development at the Lynnwood High School site.

But the area’s demographics were an even bigger factor, said Danny Chang, the Grubb &Ellis broker who negotiated the lease for H Mart.

“This was an opportunity to locate our client in an under-served area that capitalizes on their target demographics, Korean-Americans and Asian-Americans,” Chang, who is in Asia on business this week, said in a written statement.

H Mart won’t be the first Asian supermarket in the area, however. Paldo World operates a store on Highway 99 in Lynnwood, while California-based Ranch 99 Market runs a store along the same highway in Edmonds.

Just under 8 percent of the county’s population in 2006 identified themselves as Asian, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In addition to featuring a full range of Korean food and other Asian specialties, H Mart stores also sell the typical fare found in American grocery stores. The store also will have a food court.

Representatives of H Mart could not be reached for information on when the new store will open. David Kleitsch, the city of Lynnwood’s economic director, said he also hasn’t heard a projected opening date, but he said work to remodel the space already is beginning.

“They will be a destination for people coming out of the area,” Kleitsch said. “It’s reflective of the diversity that continues in south Snohomish County.”

Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.