[EXCLUSIVE] Popular Japanese Retailer to Enter Atlanta Market in 2025

A new kind of discount store is coming to town.  Daiso, a Japanese store that has been likened to Five Below and pOpshelf, is coming to Johns Creek with several more stores in the works.  

Daiso USA store courtesy of Daiso USA

The first store, coming to the Kroger-anchored Saddlebrook shopping center, replaces what had most recently been a Tuesday Morning.  

An updated site plan from center owner Retail Planning Corporation confirms the upcoming junior anchor that will occupy the 10,000 square foot space.  Saddlebrook, located at 10945 State Bridge Road at its intersection with Jones Bridge Road, is also home to a Kroger fuel center and a Piedmont Urgent Care in a former Blockbuster Video, among other tenants.  

The retail chain is the second Japanese merchant to open in the area in recent years.  Kinokuniya, a popular Japanese book store, opened last June at Abbotts Bridge Station (10820 Abbotts Bridge Road), about four miles away from the upcoming Daiso.   

Daiso, established in Japan in 1977 as a so called "100-ten" store, originally operated like a traditional stateside dollar store.  In the decades since, it, like its U.S. competitors, have tweaked their pricing to keep up with inflation, among other factors.  

The company entered the U.S. market with a store in Seattle in 2005, and as of late 2023 had about 115 stores.  Today there are more than 160 stores spread throughout Arizona, New York, Nevada, Washington, Texas, Oregon, California, and New Jersey. 

John Clarke joined Daiso US as its Chief Development Officer in July 2022, a little more than a year removed from a more than three decade run at Walmart where he was Vice President of US Real Estate & Industrial Development.  Clarke is spearheading the chain's planned U.S. growth where in 2025 Daiso plans to expand into 18 new markets. Planned market entries include a number of locations in Florida: Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Pensacola included, as well as Atlanta; Mobile, Alabama; Denver; Salt Lake City; Chicago; Minneapolis; St. Louis; Kansas City, Missouri; Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, according to published reports.  Altogether, the company is targeting an additional 110 stores in 2025.  

Those who have visited the U.S. Daiso stores liken the variety to that of Five Below and pOpshelf. 

In most cases, product pricing is offered in yen with conversion charts throughout the store to inform customers of what the prices are in dollars.  

Offerings at Daiso include household goods, beauty products, origami paper, decor, and both traditional and ethnic candy and snacks.  Expect a wide variety of HI-CHEW, a popular Japanese gum, and Pocky, a popular Japanese cookie.  Other food items include rare and specialty flavors of Lay's potato chips as well as UCC coffee products, a Japanese brand.  

Have you been to a Daiso store?  What is your favorite Japanese snack or candy?  Where else would you like to see Daiso open in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below.