Seattle Now Uwajimaya returns to Tacoma, nearly 100 years later
Jan 12, 2026
Denise Moriguchi, President and CEO of Uwajimaya, shares the inspiring story of the family-owned Asian market's upcoming return to Tacoma, nearly 100 years after its original opening. Shauna De La Rosa, a reporter from the Puget Sound Business Journal, dives into the economic implications of the new 61,000-square-foot store and the historical significance of this homecoming. They discuss Uwajimaya's impact on the local community, its vibrant origins, and personal connections to Tacoma’s rich history.
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Family Roots In Tacoma
- Denise Moriguchi recounts her grandfather opening Uwajimaya in Tacoma in the 1920s to serve Japanese laborers.
- The family later relocated to Seattle after WWII incarceration disrupted Tacoma's Japantown and they never reopened there.
Return Means A Full-Circle Moment
- Denise Moriguchi frames Uwajimaya's Tacoma return as both exciting and deeply significant to the family and city.
- She sees the move as a meaningful full-circle moment nearly a century after the original store opened.
Store As Cultural Destination
- Uwajimaya is described as more than a grocery store: a cultural and community experience many Puget Sound residents cherish.
- Shauna says school field trips and family memories show the store's place in regional identity.