Super G Mart is the largest international grocery store chain in the Carolinas, representing Charlotte’s diverse population. At its 7323 E. Independence Boulevard location, shoppers can find everything from frog legs to winter melon to Turkish coffee.
Super G Mart’s story in North Carolina begins in Greensboro, when Stephen Kim opened the first location on June 26, 2008. Stephen Kim was the son of a Korean diplomat. He built and ran office cafeterias in the Washington D.C. area for 30 years before turning his attention to starting Super G Mart. His background in office cafeterias helped familiarize him with large international grocers. He recognized the demand for international grocers in large cities with diverse populations. Kim decided to start in a medium-sized city like Greensboro before focusing on a large market like Charlotte.
Wal-Mart and Costco inspired Kim, and he wanted to bring different tastes and cuisines of the world under one roof: G in Super G Mart stands for “global.” The Greensboro location sold Asian, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern foods. Kim began looking for a new store location with broader appeal. Kim thought Independence Boulevard in Charlotte was a densely populated, heavily trafficked middle-income area that would be a phenomenal location for a new store.
Kim put $3 million into rehabbing a 72,000-square-foot former Bi-Lo Store on Independence Boulevard as Charlotte’s first Super G Mart. The store, at its opening on June 21, 2010, was a mixture of international food items and cuisines: 50% Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, etc.), 30% Latin American, and 20% Middle Eastern while also selling European and American grocery items. When Kim opened this location, he focused on produce and seafood, specifically products that were not readily available, like durian, banana leaves, and blue crabs. Clifford Lee, manager of Super G Mart in 2010, described the shopping experience to the Charlotte Observer: “When you walked through the produce section, you’ll feel like you are walking through South America, Africa, and Asia.”
The location on Independence Boulevard has a community center called “The Club” that can be rented by the community and serves as a place where people can gather, connect, and learn. Groups like the Young Professionals of World Affairs Council of Charlotte and the Korean Association meet there. The Club is also used for events like back-to-school drives. This location also features a food court that today has a Korean Restaurant, Hong Kong Bakery, Honey Buns Cafe, and a Korean Supply store.
In 2012, the Han family bought Super G Mart. Irene Han, the CEO of Super G Mart, worked at the Greensboro store, where she handled the finances as the CFO. Han saw the potential of Super G Mart and bought the company. Super G Mart is a family business owned by the Han family, who immigrated to the United States from Korea. Irene Han works alongside her son, Peter Han, the vice president of business development, her other son, Paul Han, who serves as general manager, and his wife, Minji, who assists with marketing.
Super G Mart has become wildly successful and saw a 30% increase in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic as restaurants shut down. People were cooking more from home and experimenting with different cuisines and foods. In a 2022 article in the Charlotte Observer, Peter Han noted “[we] saw a big diversification of our customer base outside of the Asian or Hispanic base we’re used to seeing shopping in our stores.” Seeing that growth, the Han family focused on expanding their business. They opened a Super G Mart location in Pineville, North Carolina, in 2022. Each store employs between 80-90 people.
In its nearly 15 years in Charlotte, Super G Mart has become an invaluable gem in the Queen City’s crown, as Charlotte’s population has become more and more diverse culturally, ethnically, and racially by offering international food items.
