H-Mart in Midway?

Is the popular H-Mart grocery chain coming to Midway Marketplace? There’s excitement due to the recent sale of the shuttered Cub Foods and At Home stores to a New Jersey limited-liability corporation whose address is affiliated with H-Mart.

Property owner developer Kraus Anderson recently sold the former Midway Cub Foods and At Home stores to the Asian grocery chain’s affiliate Gsc Re Saint Paul LLC. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, which first reported on the sale, also reported that the company is the same one behind H-Mart.

H-Mart is known for its wide selection of Korean foods and personal care products. Some of its stores are affiliated with food halls. The chain, which began as a small store in New York City in the 1980s, is extremely popular.

Property records show that the former Cub building was sold for $10.5 million. The former At Home building sold for $6 million. Cub is the smaller of the two at about 75,000 square feet. The former At Home building is about 114,000 square feet in size.

In 2019, Kraus-Anderson paid $31.2 million for its Midway Marketplace properties.

Midway Marketplace was planned in the 1990s as the city worked with developers to transform the longtime Montgomery Ward store and distribution warehouse site. It has housed an array of businesses including Montgomery Ward, Herberger’s, Mervyns California, a pet store, Borders bookstore, T.J. Maxx and several smaller stores.

The shopping center has been buffeted by the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest after George Floyd’s murder and changing shopping trends.

Hints of a possible sale came earlier this year when city officials approved a request for an adjustment of common boundary for 1410 and 1440 University Ave. That was discussed by Union Park District Council land use committee members. Some questioned if it meant a sale was forthcoming as 1440 University was the longtime address for Midway Cub Foods.

Cub closed the store a year ago. At Home closed in fall 2024. Its building previously housed Walmart and before that, K-Mart.

H-Mart representatives aren’t commenting yet. This would be the company’s first Minnesota store. The closest is in the Chicago suburbs.

Kraus-Anderson Realty Executive Vice President Jeff Hildahl issued a statement confirming the sale, stating, “Retailers that operate in this retail hub have enjoyed high sales volume stores for decades. We continue to believe in and invest in the long-term success of this retail hub.”

Midway Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chad Kulas said the sale of the properties is another positive development for the community. He, too, is seeking official word on whether H-Mart is indeed coming to the community.

Work on Allianz Field’s block that is underway includes an office building and hotel with attached parking ramp. Two new restaurants, Midway Diner and Piccoli Piatti, received on-sale liquor licenses from the St. Paul City Council June 17.

The restaurants are expected to open this fall, with the office building and hotel opening next year. Minnesota United will be moving its headquarters from Golden Valley to the office building.