TACOMA, WA (January 6, 2026) – Asian grocer Uwajimaya is planning a new store in Tacoma, marking a significant expansion for the regional specialty grocery chain.

The proposed store will occupy a former Hobby Lobby space near Target at Tacoma Central, located at 3130 S. 23rd St. The 61,484-square-foot retail space has sat vacant since Hobby Lobby closed the location in June 2024.

Plans filed with the city call for an $8 million tenant improvement project for the Uwajimaya build-out, with construction slated to begin in July. A general contractor has not yet been disclosed.

Although the former Hobby Lobby has been vacant for more than 18 months, retail vacancies at Tacoma Central are relatively scarce, said Rachel Corp, a broker with Lee & Associates.

“We have very few vacancies in that shopping center,” Corp said. “When a vacancy does come up, we get a lot of interest.”

Corp is part of the brokerage team representing most of Tacoma Central, with the exception of the former Hobby Lobby building itself and the adjacent 125,212-square-foot Target store. The Target building is owned by an entity affiliated with Target Corp.

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