Update: Marufuji Japanese Market is set for a grand opening at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. Plans for the celebration are still being finalized, but expect plenty of giveaways, deals and demonstrations, Fuji Mart Corp. Vice President Joshua Nakama says.
Earlier: The coming weeks could see the launch of a new grocery store in Tysons.
While the previously anticipated time frame of December 2024 has come and gone, Marufuji Japanese Market remains on track to open at Tysons 3 Center this winter, according to Joshua Nakama, vice president of the Connecticut-based grocer’s parent company, Fuji Mart Corp.
The store is aiming to open later in January, but the date will depend on the approval of Fairfax County, which still needs to complete required inspections.
“We’re done with construction but just waiting to get the okay from all the various departments,” Nakama told FFXnow by email.
Located next to the Tile Shop near the Spring Hill Metro Station, the 18,444-square-foot grocery store will be Fuji Mart Corp’s biggest location yet and its first in the D.C. area. The company has mostly focused on New England with stores in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
The grocer was drawn to Tysons for its D.C.-area debut “because of its reputation as a high-quality shopping destination and the synergy with other Japanese brands and concepts already operating in the area,” Nakama says.
While Tysons doesn’t have an Asian supermarket yet, it does have its fair share of Japanese restaurants, including nearby Yido Ramen and Sushi and Umai Ramen and Donburi, which opened in Tysons West in October. In eastern Tysons, the high-end Modan opened on Nov. 8 in the Scotts Run neighborhood.
“The Northern [Virginia] metro [area] has a large Japanese population and we’re excited to be able to both serve that community and to share our offerings with all customers who crave a taste of Japan,” Nakama said.
Aiming to recreate “the experience of shopping in Japan,” Marufuji will sell sashimi-grade fish, Wagyu beef, Japanese-style meat cuts, and other grocery staples used for that country’s cuisine. The store will also have housewares and home good as well as a made-to-order section.
“Customers can order scratch-made Japanese comfort foods and Japanese teas and coffee for dine-in and for take-out,” Nakama said.
Marufuji will be located at 8520-A Leesburg Pike, taking over a space that has been vacant since the furniture store Ethan Allen closed in 2019.
