Asian cuisine superstore coming to Naperville

A little bit of the Orient is coming to Naperville.

Workers are busy transforming a former Dominick's grocery store into Super H Mart, a sort of giant Asian cuisine superstore.

The store is slated to open at the end of August, the second such store in the Chicago area in the past year. A sister store opened last August in Niles.

"Since we found our American customers are very happy with our fresh produce, we increased that area in this store," said Peter Kong, project manager for the New York-based company. "Seventy percent of the floor will be produce and seafood."

The store will feature Korean, Chinese and Japanese food items along with some Western items and Hispanic foods, Kong said.

Dominick's closed the 40,000-square-foot facility at 1295 E. Ogden Ave. in May, leaving a major void in the plaza at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Naperville-Wheaton Road.

Curious shoppers already were stopping in front of the refurbished façade looking for clues to what was coming. So far, it's merely the outline of the words "Super" and "Mart."

Super H Mart also is remodeling another 20,000 square feet next door to convert into 15 different minishops and eateries to complement the grocery store. Among those shops will be a bank, salon and a bakery, Kong said.

About 10 percent of Naperville's estimated 160,000 residents are Asian, many of whom live on the north side of town. However, Kong said the company isn't just targeting Asian customers.

"We don't want to just rely on our Asian customers," he said. "We have something for everyone."

John Lee, director of Cicero-based Asian-American Small Business Association, said the Super H Mart business model is not uncommon with Asian grocery stores, although the store is larger than what many suburbs are accustomed to seeing.

"That's because they're not just targeting Asian people anymore," he said. "So many people will go there for shopping and then get their nails done and have lunch afterward."

Kong said his company is planning several other Super H Marts elsewhere in the Chicago area.

"It's kind of like a chess game," he said. "We wanted one on the north and then this one on the south, so we'll begin filling in the space between."