When it comes to supermarkets that I visit near where I stay in Ikebukuro, I often visit the Gyomuyo Supermarket SHIODAYA.
What is SHIODAYA? It began in Showa 26 (1951) as a wholesale restaurant for delicacies in Shinjuku opened by chairman Homma Isamu.
In 1958, it moved to Kabukicho and was established as Shiodaya Homma Shoji Co., Ltd. and the company obtained a license to sale salt.
By 1963, the company went from having a capital of Y500,000 to Y2.5 million and changed their name to the current SHIODAYA Co., Ltd. and a few years later, obtained a retail license to sell liquor.
And by 1971, the shop obtained permission to buy and sell fruits and vegetables in Tokyo and in 1972, would open a retail that would be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
While the main SHIODAYA store in Kabukicho, Shinjuku sells liquor, especially sake, the store in Okubo, Shinuku and the store in Ikebukuro West are commercial supermarkets. The company also has a commercial market called PROMART in Akabane.
In 1996, the supermarket was opened in Ikebukuro West and is your normal supermarket where you can find things much cheaper than a convenience store. For example, why buy a single banana for Y100 when you can go to SHIODAYA and buy a group of bananas for Y230.
You can no doubt find amazing prices for fruits and vegetables at a supermarket like SHIODAYA and if you are staying in the West side area, definitely check this supermarket out!
