Hashi Market to Open Aurora Store on Mississippi Ave
The New York-based retailer will occupy a former Safeway site, bringing a hybrid grocery and department store concept to Aurora.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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New York-based Hashi Market plans to open an Aurora location at 12200 E. Mississippi Ave, occupying a site previously held by Safeway. The retailer brings a hybrid business model that combines a fresh-food supermarket, a mini department store, and a catering service to the local area.
Why it matters
The entry of Hashi Market intensifies competition for existing grocers like G.W. Supermarket, located just across the street at 12303 E. Mississippi Ave. Operators in the grocery and retail space should monitor this shift as the site formerly used by a major national chain undergoes a specialized concept conversion.
The new site occupies 12200 E. Mississippi Ave, replacing a Safeway location that closed in fall 2025. It enters a market where G.W. Supermarket currently operates at 12303 E. Mississippi Ave.
The players
Hashi Market
A New York-based retailer that operates a combination of fresh-food supermarkets, mini department stores, and catering services.
G.W. Supermarket
An existing grocery retailer located at 12303 E. Mississippi Ave in Aurora.
TESO Life
A specialty retailer that expanded into the Colorado market in October 2026.
Safeway
A large-scale national supermarket chain that closed its Aurora location at 12200 E. Mississippi Ave in the fall of 2025.
The details
Hashi Market operates by blending multiple revenue streams, specifically a fresh-food supermarket, a mini department store, and a catering service. The business focuses on sourcing specialized labels from Japan and other Asian markets, catering to specific consumer demand patterns. The company is actively expanding its footprint, with recent growth into Cupertino, California, and planned stores in Massachusetts and New York.
Timeline
Fall 2025: The former Safeway site at 12200 E. Mississippi Ave closed.
October 9, 2026: Hashi Market opened a store in Cupertino, California.
October 2026: TESO Life opened its first Colorado store.
Market Landscape
The expansion of Hashi Market into Aurora follows the ongoing trend of specialized, multi-format retailers backfilling vacant real estate left by exiting national chains. This move places the new entrant in direct proximity to existing international grocers currently serving the East Mississippi Avenue corridor.
Local retailers should re-evaluate their inventory sourcing and product mix as Hashi Market introduces a new combination of grocery, catering, and department store services to the district. Operators nearby must watch if the added foot traffic benefits the entire corridor or leads to heightened price competition.
The takeaway
The move underscores the strategic value of existing retail infrastructure for specialized operators looking to scale quickly into new regions. Business owners should monitor the development of the 12200 E. Mississippi Ave site for insights into how this hybrid retail model impacts foot traffic in the surrounding commercial cluster.
Further reading
For more on the retail environment in the city, visit Aurora Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Denver Post.
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