Utsuwa at Mitsuwa Closing

We were at Mitsuwa today and the ceramics shop near the entrance has a 30% off Closing Business Sale. Many things were already gone. If I had a van I'd buy their store fixtures. Pickup that sushi boat you've always wanted, that tea set, portioned lacquer-ware, udon bowls, serving platters and good fortune cat.

Well, the sale is now 50% off and there isn't much left - at least nothing worth buying, unless you are in the market for some cute ceramic chopstick stands, tea strainers without handles, and chinese zodiac key chains.

I was there at about 11:30 this am and bought what I needed from the small selection left. It was sad to see the shelves so bare. There was quite a bit of faux lacquer, however, including sushi boats.

Not worth making a special trip if you haven't already.

We went to Mitsuwa yesterday, and felt the place is in decline - we saw that the bookstore has moved into the former Utsuwa space - a very much smaller area, so the range of books is smaller. I realize that only people who study or speak Japanese will care about this, but I'm one of them, so I do. The toy store closed long ago, of course. We were not impressed with the quality of the fish, and the quality of some of the produce was off. So Mitsuwa is no longer as much fun (for me) as it used to be.

Someone on this board (I believe it was) once mentioned another Japanese grocery in Arlington Heights. Can you refresh my memory? Mitsuwa still has a lot to offer (great sake selection in the liquor store!), but it would be nice to have an alternate choice.

HI,

You are seeking:

True World Market
3 S Arlington Heights Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 806-1200

From Algonquin Road, just turn south and it is the east side in a shopping center (maybe it was a former grocery store) after the bridge.

The toy store may not be in Mitsuwa, though it has not left the area:

JoelF wrote:This should really be in non-food, the new address of the toystore is 43 W Golf Rd, Arlington Heights. I haven't found where that is exactly yet, but it's on their website: http://www.j1toy.com

Regards,

Akatonbo wrote:We were not impressed with the quality of the fish, and the quality of some of the produce was off.

I've also noticed more bad, old produce at Mitsuwa lately. And my mother-in-law has been complaining about a downturn in the salmon they use for their salted salmon.

HI,

It has been reported here since H-Mart opened, you could now more easily find parking at Chicago Food Corp. I imagine H-Mart has sucked up business from Mitsuwa as well. They probably haven't adjusted their purchasing to reflect the new business reality and running into problems.

Regards,

i was just @ Chicago Food last nite. Parking is still a PITA. add the Korean moms and it's doubly PITA.

i bought $60+ worth of asian pears as Xmas give-aways. for city dwellers, H-mart is still too darn far and inconvenient.

TonyC wrote:for city dwellers, H-mart is still too darn far and inconvenient.

I live in Hyde Park and make weekly treks to H-Mart, as well as Arlington Heights for quality Asian groceries - it's all a matter of priorities in dining vs time saved vs fuel costs; Of course I always load up on each trip.