On Saturday morning, the line to enter Bay Street Emeryville’s new grocery store stretched down the block, around the corner and deep into the parking garage. For the grand opening of Tokyo Central, which ultimately drew over 8,000 customers, some people started lining up as early as 12:30 a.m. the night before. Emily Griego and Veronica Villanueva, who had come prepared with stools to sit on, had been there since 7 a.m.

“We don’t have any of these nearby so I was like, it’ll be cool to check it out,” said Griego, an Alameda resident. “It’s only 15 minutes away from the house so we can pop over here easy.”

She was excited for the produce; Villanueva was excited for the Japanese beauty products. “I didn’t know anything about it until she told me about it, but I’m really excited,” Villanueva said.

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Daniela Hernandez laughs while waiting with hundreds of customers lining up for the grand opening of Tokyo Central at Bay Street in Emeryville, Calif., on Jan. 31, 2026.

Hundreds of customers line up waiting to enter Tokyo Central at Bay Street in Emeryville, Calif., on Jan. 31, 2026.

Hundreds of customers line up to enter the grand opening of Tokyo Central at Bay Street in Emeryville, Calif., on Jan. 31, 2026.

The addition of a grocery story is just the cherry on top of Bay Street’s recent transformation into a foodie destination. In 2023, the mall boosted its foot traffic with the openings of date night-worthy restaurants like Pippal and Flores, as well as casual spots like Arthur Mac’s Little Snack. The mall added Mumu Hot Pot and dessert shop Jars in 2024. After years of rumors about what would fill the 40,635-square-foot anchor space on Bay Street’s ground floor, CenterCal Properties announced in August 2024 that the new tenant would be Japanese grocer Tokyo Central. 

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“Emeryville’s dynamic and culturally rich environment makes it an ideal home for Tokyo Central,” Tokyo Central President Koichi Toyo told SFGATE in an emailed statement. “The community’s appreciation for global flavors and creative living aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver authentic Japanese products and experiences.”

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