Is H-Mart in Burlington Dead?

[Dinsdale45]

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Mainsite/...

[mcel215]

Thanks so much.

[LDoll13]

Drove by last week and a sign on the window said opening Friday, 9/25.

[adridne]

It's open!
I accidentally went to the grand opening this morning and got to be one of the people to cut the ribbon. It was pretty crowded.
It's really nice inside, nicer than the one in Silver Spring.
Enjoy!

[csk]

I just called Hmart customer service and was told that they're opening sometime in September. He didn't have an exact date, unfortunately. :(

[mikmum]

drove pass it today and there was already a store sign.

[workingbrian]

According to the local Korean newspaper in Boston, H Mart is scheduled to open in mid September.

[robertlf]

I stopped by today. See my PHOTOS in the other post!!!!

[mcel215]

Thanks so much, love the photos!

[C. Hamster]

I recently shopped at an Hmart in Chicago and was super impressed by the quality, prices and cleanliness.

I'll absolutely make the drive up to shop there. Glad it's looking good.

[grant.cook]

Anyone checked up on H-Mart recently (early May?). Haven't been up near the mall lately, curious how the construction/setup is going.

[PinchOfSalt]

I was at the Burlington MB late last week and (of course!) felt the impulse to drive by the H-Mart-to-be on the way out. The good news: the "Opening Soon" sign is still up at the beginning of the little access road that leads past the Market Basket and back to the future H-Mart. The bad news: the access road is closed off after the turn-off that sends you to the main parking lot that serves Market Basket and the other stores along that row. So, since there is still no sign on the H-Mart building, it is hard to tell what is happening there. But maybe that is good news, since closing that road to traffic may mean they will be doing work on it or the parking area in front of the H-Mart building. For what it's worth, the H-Mart website still says that Burlington will be "opening soon".

[Eatin in Woostah]

We drove back there through the "back way" about a week ago - used the side road and came up from the rear. They were still working.

[mcel215]

Any updates on HMart opening? thnx.

[krazykid]

Every once in a while I'll drive up to the store, and take a look through the windows to see what's going on. The last time I did this was last week. They had the ceiling lighting fixtures up, the walls painted, and some of the refrigerator cases in place. I think they still had to do some more dry wall work. The aisles were starting to be put into place.

[mcel215]

Thanks.

[robertlf]

Any more news? Have they posted an opening date?

[PinchOfSalt]

Here is the relevant page from the H-Mart website. As of today it still says coming soon. But people can check whenever they have the urge!

http://www.hmart.com/ourstore/ourstor...

[peregrine]

That page hasn't changed for months.

[PinchOfSalt]

Perhaps they have nothing new to say? It's not like H-Mart has been giving progress reports. However it probably is reasonable to expect they will update the page when they have a firm opening date, which is what we all want to know (me as much as anyone else).

[Eatin in Woostah]

I live down the street, and still regularly see activity there. I think someone said August at some point - at least that's my hope.

[robertlf]

Hmart's web site says that the Burlington store will open in late July or August. It will cater to Korean, Japanese and Chinese customers.

[bear]

The refrigerator/freezer cases were up on Thursday...good sign!

[workingbrian]

according to the website link that started this thread: http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Mainsite/...

h-mart is supposed to be opening on saturday, august 1!!! :)

[mcel215]

I was just talking to a friend about it this weekend and wondered. Thanks.

[sinned61]

I hope it also caters to Irish guys who like to cook Chinese as well robertlf
; )

[robertlf]

as long as it caters to me. :-) that was just copy that i got from their web site / press release

[mcel215]

Any news about Saturday? It still says opening August 1st?
Thanks.

[greygarious]

mcel215, check this newer thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6390...

It sounds like the opening is still up in the air. Dang!

[robertlf]

The day is upon us. Any news?

[PinchOfSalt]

I plan to swing by after picking up my (wonderful) Chestnut Farm CSA distribution this morning in Waltham... I mean.... what if H-Mart actually was open and I didn't go?

[mcel215]

Please report back! If it is, I want to go too! Thanks.

[PinchOfSalt]

We definitely are not there yet. The cash registers are installed. There are shelves up. There are frozen food displays (the kind that are open on the top). There may be some more assembling to do in both cases. All shelves and displays are empty. I did see two piles of cartons towards the back, but who knows what is in them. The sign is not up on the building yet (though there is signage near the entrances warning people that HMart is not liable for grocery cart damage.) There are no grocery carts in sight. There were no signs labeling the various stalls in the food court.

I'd say we get to wait another week.

Oh, the most amusing thing was I was not alone. There was a steady stream of cars driving up, slowing down as they neared and passed in front of the storefront, and leaving.

[mcel215]

Thanks!

[ssgs]

Has anyone taken a look at the store lately? I'm new to the area, and currently go to Reliable Market in Somerville, MA for Korean grocery shopping. I live in Tewksbury, MA.

[greygarious]

Opening 9/25 - see the newer thread.

[PinchOfSalt]

I was just there a few hours ago. As others have reported, plenty of shopping carts in the parking lot, an opening soon banner, and stuff on the shelves. Also, two doors (on the left-hand entrance) had small signs saying it would open on 9/25. It also looked like stuff was being loaded into the food court area, but it was hard to tell for sure. Finally there were some signs advertising for people to work there. They said that working for H-Mart was like joining a family...

[mcel215]

Thanks, can't wait!

[ssgs]

Great news. I see the other thread now. Thanks for all the on-site reports over the months.

[Eatin in Woostah]

The promise of local pho and bahn mi just feels too good to be true. Oh, how I hope some good Vietnamese place opens a stall...

[peregrine]

While you're waiting, try the Pho place on Main St (rt 38) in Woburn, a mile or so out from 128 on the left. They're pretty good. They have a full Vietnamese menu.

[Eatin in Woostah]

Hi peregrine,
We've tried it, and were really not impressed. :( Lady of Siam in Arlington has improved a little and is where we head now, but we really miss Da Lat in Worcester.

[marcreichman]

When did this improvement at Lady Siam happen? It would take a serious positive review to get me back there.

[Eatin in Woostah]

I can't say how or why, but we had written it off after the first try. Then out of desperation about 6 weeks ago we went back, and had really excellent beef ball pho and excellent cozy shrimp. Bun is still served in those weird square bowls though, which is a real hindrance. Quality of the grilled pork on the bun was excellent, though. Not a first choice for Vietnamese, but we've gone back out of desperation, and because we had such a bad experience at Pho 1 in Woburn. So to bring it back to the topic at hand, looking forward greatly to the possibility of a Vietnamese food alternative close to home, that is better than just OK.

[jngnyc]

Hi Eatin in Woostah,

Curious, are you 'hoping' there'll be a pho/bahn mi/vietnamese stall in h-mart.... or have you actually heard rumors there might be??

Wondering if I should get too excited ahead of time!! :)

[Eatin in Woostah]

Just wishful thinking - sorry!

[peregrine]

Slow down, folks.

I drove by this morning and saw a couple of hard-hats working outdoors. I asked if they had any idea when the place might open. They said July or August most likely, because the owners keep wanting changes and then not wanting to pay for them.

Nutz.

[Eatin in Woostah]

That sign is such a tease. Thanks for asking some questions, peregrine. We are so anxious for a good Asian market in this area.

[greygarious]

Peregrine's info indicates that H-Mart's finances are not the steadiest, so a lot may hinge on whether or not they fill their tenant/vendor slots. Fingers crossed!

[chilibaby]

Very promising -- there is now a banner clearly visible from Middlesex Tpke with "H-Mart coming soon" and mentions vendor space for rent. Drove back to the actual site (entering toward Market Basket you go left, and end up behind Market Basket, not over toward Old Navy). Signs on the building say H-Mart coming soon and a number of construction signs. No actual work going on today (Sat).

[C. Hamster]

Sounds like the South Bay 88.

I am sure we'll find it. If the store I went to in Chicago is indicative of the management (incredibly well organized, immacuate, fresh and huge variety) , they will most certainly have signage

[lgss]

I saw the sign a couple days ago and thought maybe they were going in where Expo is going out of business.

[PinchOfSalt]

The Expo place is HUGE. Since that's not where H-Mart will be, wouldn't it be nice if there were another foodie shopping destination? Another branch of Kam Man? Or some chain that has not made it to the Boston area yet?

[greygarious]

Opening another Asian market a few hundred feet from H-Mart? Don't hold your breath. Since the new Reading Market Basket crushed the adjacent Stop&Shop, I wouldn't expect another foodie business to replace the Expo. I'd be happy to be proved wrong, but I predict it will be vacant for a long time. Locals have concerns about the traffic volume on that stretch of road, so prospective tenants with high-volume shopping will have some hurdles. It's certainly well over 10 years since the Purity/Heartland in Tewksbury, on 38 near 495, closed, and it has been vacant ever since.

[justbeingpolite]

Nah. I think it's going where Decathalon Sports closed about a year ago.

[peregrine]

That's right. H-Mart is taking that whole building. Decathalon only had half.

[C. Hamster]

I was able to go to an H-MART in Chicago recently and I am REALLY stoked to get one here. It was beautiful.

HURRY!!

[krazykid]

There's definitely activity going on. The store has been completely gutted, and you can see the structural work going on (studs placed, etc.) and a foreman's desk with plans. On the front window is what I would guess a project time line (the time line was facing the inside of the store). I could make out the dates on the top and they extended to the end of May. It also said H-Mart on it.

So it looks like it's on. *woo hoo* Just have to wait a little bit longer.

[Aquila]

There's a sign out front now: H Mart Opening Soon! No dates, though...

[sinned61]

GOOD! My last 3 trips to Super 88 in Malden, they had NO Dumplings from th Chinese Spaghetti Factory!

NONE!!!

[chilibaby]

This is a promising development. Which of the strip malls is it in up there? I would keep an eye out for activity also but am not sure which space is the alleged site.

[peregrine]

It's behind DeMoulas - go into that driveway, but go straight ahead, do not turn right. To the right are JoAnn's, a Bugaboo Steak House, Old Navy, etc., and the about-to-close Home Expo.
The building was most recently a sporting-goods store.
I'm glad to hear there's some action. I saw a few tradesmens' trucks parked in the lot a couple of weeks ago, but haven't checked back for a while.

[sinned61]

Visibility wise it's a HORRIBLE spot, almost hidden. Hopefully the reputation of the store will overcome the physical location. I'll be there!

[chilibaby]

Thanks for the tip -- I'll keep my eyes open. It does seem that you would need to know it's there. I hadn't even noticed the space despite having been to Expo not long ago.

[peregrine]

They'll have to have a sign out at the traffic light on the Msx Tpk or, indeed, nobody will find them. I'm sure they're smart enough to have this as part of their lease. There is a sign board. I'm sure they'll be added to it when the time comes.

[greygarious]

Let me clarify a little, for people unfamiliar with or new to the area: it's behind the Middlesex Mall, which has a Market Basket (originally, the chain was called Demoulas) supermarket. When you turn off Middlesex Turnpike (aka Lowell Street) at the traffic light, the access road splits. You'd bear right for Market Basket, Joann's, etc., but you continue on - the road winds - and the H-Mart is several hundred feet further back. The building is not readily visible from Middlesex Tpke.

[Chris VR]

There's also a "secret" back way to get there which bypasses a bunch of the traffic on MIddlesex Tpke.

Food court! Be still, my heart!

[greygarious]

I know the other entrance, but you and I come from different directions - makes more sense for you than me. I feel bad for China Merchandise, the packed to the gills little Asian grocery on 3A in Burlington; it seems likely that H-Mart will siphon off their customers.

[peregrine]

China Merch. has a lot of Indian products as well. if H-Mart goes that far afield, C.M. could really be in serious trouble.

[PinchOfSalt]

If you go to the H-Mart web site you will see Burlington listed as opening soon. Plus, there is a Korean-language brochure that appears to be advertising the availability of small stalls for rent in a mall-like area of the facility. So it certainly does seem as if H-Mart is a go for Burlington.

Here are the links to the H-Mart map that shows the Burlington store and the brochure:

http://www.hmart.com/ourstore/ourstore_main.asp
http://www.hmart.com/hboard/data/Burl...

If anyone who can read the brochure can confirm what it is about, that would be great.

[lossless]

i looked thru the brochure, and it is as you guessed a brochure looking for businesses to set up shop within the hmart complex.

page 5 says that space is available for 15 shops, including 5 restaurants (korean, japanese, chinese, snacks, etc.) all within a food court and 10 regular retail shops.

page 5 also says: "completion / expected opening date = first half of 2009 (april expected)". yay.

[sinned61]

I drove by there 3 hours ago and there was work activity happening.....if not H-Mart, something is happening.

[noodlely]

Finally! The kamman center is so crazy on the weekends now. Literally NO parking b/c there are too many people there. Boston needs another large asian market pronto.

[C. Hamster]

I thought I had just gone on a busy day (right before Chinese New Year) but YIKES that place is nuts. Who knew they had all that back lot parking?

Good to see, though. They still stock everything and have not gone the way of 88.

I would LOVE to have HMart come in though.

[doctor_mama]

Drove by yesterday and there were trucks (roofing and concret) and workers all over the place.

[peregrine]

Be still my heart.

[bear]

I drove by today late in the afternoon while in the area. Nothing going on that I could see.

[trishaluna]

This has come up before, if you search you will find the previous chowhound discussion. This ad is showing the building is for sale but it has a 15 yr lease client (NNN is called: Triple net, which is Rent, Taxes, Insurance/Maintenance). That client is H Mart, so the building owner is selling with a leased tenant in tact. The lease commenced on Jan 15 and expires on Jan 1, 2024. So basically, if you $12,750,000 you can be H-mart's landlord.

[lergnom]

If the lease has no outs and if the lease isn't with a shell company or isn't guaranteed, then the tenant is eventually out a bunch of cash. Doesn't mean they'll open. The sales info is hilariously misleading, which means I wouldn't trust the lease is solid. Triple Nets are often sold to investor groups sight unseen, as in "It's a Walgreens Triple Net," meaning it's like a bond. This sales info speaks of a renovated store that's open, etc. so at best it would be fishing for interest in the market ... and then disclose, "Well, there are a few issues."

[robertlf]

That looks like H-Mart backed out because of the bad economy. Sad. I'd love to see H-Mart or Mitsuwa here in MA.