Orange County welcomes New Grocery Stores: Tokyo Central and Sprouts Farmers Market Expand

Tokyo Central, a popular Japanese supermarket chain operated by Marukai Corp., is opening its third Orange County store in late July.

The store features an abundance of pantry goods, produce, meat and fish (even live fish, crabs and lobster). Beyond pantry goods,the store sells made-to-order and ready-to-go food trays,health products and specialty items like candy,household appliances and kitchen tools.

An in-store sushi restaurant also will serve Japanese cuisine.

Store reps tell us the grand opening is the weekend of July 26-27.

The store,a new build at 14120 Culver Drive backing to the southbound ramp to the 5 freeway,will be just a short walk from another Japanese supermarket,Mitsuwa Marketplace.

At 17,368 square feet, the newest Tokyo central store in Orange County will be the company’s 13th U.S. location. The chain operates 12 stores nationwide.

Sprouts Coming to Santa Ana Shopping Center

Sprouts farmers Market recently signed a lease at Bristol Warner Village in Santa Ana, where it will replace a shuttered 99 Cents Only store.

The 25,860-square-feet space is a key anchor at the 80,865-square-foot center at 2311 South Bristol St. at the intersection with Warner Avenue. Other merchants include IHOP, Starbucks, T-Mobile, and Waba Grill.

The discount 99 Cents Only store closed in 2024. The new Sprouts is scheduled to open in late 2026, according to the longtime property owner, NewMark Merrill Cos.

“This new location represents our sixth Sprouts grocery store in our portfolio,” said Sandy Sigal,president and chief executive at NewMark Merrill. “We are actively working on multiple other new deals with them as they continue to grow.”