Status Update: Tokyo Central opens supermarket, sushi restaurant in Irvine

Tokyo Central opened its long-awaited Irvine supermarket Saturday at the bustling Heritage Plaza shopping center.

The center, just off the 5 freeway on Culver Drive, now has the unique distinction of offering two Japanese grocery stores: Mitsuwa and Tokyo Central.

The 18,000-square-foot Tokyo Central is the third location in Orange County for the chain owned by Marukai Corp. Its parent company, Pan Pacific International Holdings, also owns the popular Don Quijote brand (nickname Donki) in Japan and Gelson’s Market, which it acquired in 2021.

Executives from Japan were part of the grand opening Saturday, including Marukai President Koichi Toyo who told reporters the parent company would be shifting its name to Tokyo Central as the chain continues to expand in the United States. Tokyo Central has 12 stores in California and two in Hawaii. Another store is opening in Northern California (Emeryville) followed by another in Cerritos.

Toyo also said the company was closely following the tariff deals made with President Donald Trump. Last week, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced 15% tariffs on Japanese goods sent to the United States. Speaking through a translator, Toyo said Marukai would be looking at price controls while keeping its customers first.

Also see: Tariffs threaten Asian beauty product boom in US

Irvine’s Tokyo Central is somewhat different than its Yorba Linda and Costa Mesa counterparts. Beyond its larger size, the Irvine location offers a standalone sushi restaurant adjacent to the grocery store.

Waka Sakura features sushi and hot dishes with orders placed using electronic tablets at the table. Food is delivered on conveyor belts that swish quietly next to tables. Patrons sit at numbered tables, which enables the kitchen staff to send the food down the belt to the diner. The wait staff delivers more delicate dishes like soup, desserts and drinks.

The grocery store offers shoppers a wide variety of Japanese and Asian brands, including hot food to go, freshly made sushi (bowls, sashimi, rolls and more), fresh fish, meat, produce, baked goods, pantry items, many types of rice, housewares and even toys and candy.

Tokyo Central operates a number of stores in Los Angeles County, two in San Diego County and one in Cupertino.

Address: 14120 Culver Drive

Online at tokyocentral.com

Pitch competition is Aug. 1 at UCI

A pitch competition for female entrepreneurs is coming to Irvine this week, a collaboration among three Asian Pacific business groups.

Five finalists will compete for money and expert support in the Trailblazers: Women Innovators Pitch Competition. It takes place from 5-8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1 at UCI Beall Applied Innovation @ the Cove in Irvine.

The free event is hosted by the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce with its partners the CalAsian Foundation and National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Trailblazers is more than just a pitch competition — it’s a national platform that empowers and uplifts visionary women entrepreneurs,” said Pat Fong Kushida, CEO of the CalAsian Chamber and CalAsian Foundation, in a statement. “It’s an incredible opportunity to shine a light on innovation that is too often overlooked, and to create new pathways for long-term business success.”

The finalists and their concepts include:

Kanna Ecklund – Asaichi, an eco-friendly floral foam alternative

Valerie Bernal – Parker and Talia; sensory-friendly clothing and socks

Melody Stein – pi00a, an inclusive pizza brand

Amber Ivey – AiDigiTales, AI-driven storytelling tools for students and teachers

Charlyn Bender – Avarie Femcare, period care with reusable menstrual products.

For more information, go to trailblazersinnovate.com

Address: 5270 California Ave. # 100, Irvine

Health clinic opening in Anaheim Hills

A family medicine clinic is opening next month in Anaheim Hills, offering primary and specialty care.

HealthyU Clinics, with 20 locations in California and Arizona, is open at 500 S. Anaheim Hills Road, Suite 246.

Drs. Jason Berry and Henry Cheng will begin seeing patients at the new location in early August. Both are board-certified family medicine physicians. Cheng is fluent in Mandarin, in addition to English.

HealthyU Clinics accepts a wide range of insurance providers, including Aetna to Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Humana, Medicare plans and more.

For more information, go to healthyuclinics.com

Renovation complete at Aliso Viejo fitness club

Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo has completed a renovation of its “recovery areas,” which include steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs. The work wrapped up in early June.

The full-service gym, which is attached to the Renaissance hotel, also updated much of its 100,000-square-foot facility, modernizing the fitness areas, lap pool deck, strength and cardio equipment, sports courts and class spaces. It also added a training zone with equipment for HIIT, weightlifting, gymnastics, and aerobic workouts.

While ClubSport is free for hotel guests, memberships are available for community residents, including a “Friends Membership” that can be shared by up to four people.

For more information, go to clubsports.com

Address: 50 Enterprise

Milestones

Debra Anne Kellogg at Toshiba America Business Solutions in Lake Forest was honored with a  Bronze Stevie Award for Culture Transformation Leader of the Year. Kellogg is credited for leading a cross-country Toshiba task force “to create a new nationwide culture training program for nearly 1,950 company employees.” One of the judges commented that Kellogg is “the kind of leader who isn’t chasing the spotlight but whose fingerprints are on everything that actually moves the company forward.” The Stevie Awards recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.

Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.