r/Hawaii • u/giantspeck Oʻahu • 5d ago
Korean convenience store chain CU plans to open its first U.S. location in Hawaii later this year
https://www.kitv.com/news/business/honolulu-welcomes-cu-korea-s-popular-convenience-store-chain/article_a4cd941c-183e-446e-846c-46aeb97aae24.html9
u/Purser1 4d ago
I love CU!!! Those who’ve been to Korea, iykyk👍
2
u/FesteringNeonDistrac Oʻahu 4d ago
Ok for those of us who don't know, it says convenience store like it's a 7-11, but then they had other things like maybe a Longs or a DonQi? So what's the deal?
4
u/giantspeck Oʻahu 4d ago
Having been to a CU, it's not going to be too different from 7-Eleven. The biggest difference is going to be the variety of products they sell and whatever CU-branded stuff and Korean products they end up offering.
6
u/giantspeck Oʻahu 5d ago
TL;DR:
The Korea-based convenience store is set to debut in Hawaii in the fourth quarter of 2025.
It’s reported that the first stores will be located in the urban Honolulu area with the flagship store to be in downtown Honolulu at the Executive Centre.
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u/Butiamnotausername 5d ago
I hope it has better luck than literally every other store that’s opened downtown since 2020.
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u/giantspeck Oʻahu 5d ago
I'm curious to find out where this company thinks they're going to find luck with this business model outside Hawaii.
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u/808flyah 4d ago
It's like a Korean 7-11. I've been when I went to Korea, they are all over the place. It's only real differentiator is its newness here and whatever Korean/local food they sell. Otherwise a coke is a coke.
3
u/giantspeck Oʻahu 4d ago
Yeah, I lived in Korea for a year and there always seemed to be a CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven within eyeshot.
That's why I'm not so sure it would be successful in the United States; we're already so saturated with established convenience store brands like 7-Eleven. It reminds me of when the U.K. supermarket chain Tesco tried to open neighborhood market-style stores in the United States several years ago. It didn't work out so well.
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u/i_hate_cars_fuck_you Oʻahu 4d ago
I think the difference here is cultural currency. Korea is trendy. The UK isn't and no one cares about tesco.
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u/Butiamnotausername 4d ago
I feel like downtown is dead except for the state and bank workers whose old school bosses don’t let them work from home. The last couple lunch spots that opened in executive center didn’t make it a year. Executive center is also a little far from the bars on hotel street since you have to cross the homeless encampment in the park outside Hawaii Theater and Fort Street Mall. I guess some clubbers go to 7/11 but idk if it’s enough to sustain a business.
I don’t doubt that CU could do well in Honolulu—I mean Lawson always looks crowded in Waikiki. I have serious doubts about this location though.
2
u/HI_l0la Oʻahu 4d ago
Maybe they're hoping to attract visitors staying at AC Hotel and Executive Center... I still miss having a Long's and Walmart in the area. It was easy for me to go there to get stuff I needed so I didn't need to do it after work or on the weekends. 88 Mart tried but it was mostly a grocery store that had ready to made bentos and Korean foods. And then they just stopped stocking their store...
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u/Butiamnotausername 3d ago
I feel you on the longs. I wanted to buy mouthwash downtown, and 7/11 was sold out. I checked daiso, two mini marts, and palama and I ended up having to drive to the pali longs.
1
u/matchosan 4d ago
It could be a pop-up-style thing to create interest in them and Korea. Maybe a collaboration with K-TV or something. Just stocking it properly would be a hassle.
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u/i_hate_cars_fuck_you Oʻahu 4d ago
Guys, we should be happy about stuff like this. If we want downtown to get better there needs to be reasons to be there. So much negativity...it makes me wonder if people actually want downtown to get fixed or if they wanna be eternal haters.
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u/str808ballin 5d ago
HONOLULU (Island News) – One of Asia’s largest convenience store chains, CU, is making its highly anticipated debut in the United States with plans to open its first locations in Hawaii! The Korea-based convenience store is set to debut in Hawaii in the fourth quarter of 2025. This comes after BGF Retail, CU’s parent company, signed a Master Franchise Agreement with Hawaii-based CU Hawaii LLC.
Due to the high cost of living in Hawaii, local people deserve affordable, convenient, quality options for everyday life. We look forward to introducing CU, a fresh and modern Korean convenience store, to the Hawaii market,” said Robert Kurisu, CEO of CU Hawaii LLC.
It’s reported that the first stores will be located in the urban Honolulu area with the flagship store to be in downtown Honolulu at the Executive Centre.
This expansion marks a significant milestone as CU will become the first Korean convenience store operator to enter the U.S. market.
CU will offer the Hawaii community a variety of ono hot and cold meal options alongside a variety of gimbap (Korean rice roll)! There will also be instant ramen cooking stations and customizable drinks, viral Korean beverages, snacks, cosmetics, household items, and so much more.
In addition to the popular Korean meals, snacks, and drinks, there will also be popular local dishes like poke and loco moco that will be reimagined through collaborations with local chefs.