Filipino-owned supermart chain opens biggest store in SF Bay Area

Filipino-owned Seafood City supermarkets opened its largest complex in South San Francisco, California. ESTHER MISA CHAVEZ PHOTOS

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, California — Seafood City, the first Filipino-owned supermarket with the biggest number of branches in the US, opened its newest and largest complex in the heart of “Filipino Town” on the border of South San Francisco and Daly City.

WATCH: Seafood City opening in South San Francisco.

The chain’s 23^rd store and its seventh in Northern California opened at 3537 Callan Boulevard, South San Francisco. On the same location will open the most number of iconic Philippine brands such as Mercury Pharmacy, Jollibee, Red Ribbon, Chowking and TFC among others.

Fresh buko juice among the produce at Seafood City.

“Community Night” on Tuesday, March 29 gathered movers and shakers in the San Francisco Bay Area. There were Seafood City Chairman Steve Go and CEO Carlos Go, South San Francisco Mayor Mark Addiego, Daly City Deputy Mayor David Canepa, City Councilor Mike Guingona, Consuls Reginald Bernabe and Carlyn Monastrial representing Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. of the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco, ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez, many community leaders and members of the media.

At the Seafood City ceremonial ribbon-cutting from left, South San Francisco Mayor Mark Addiego, Seafood City Chairman Steve Go, South San Francisco Councilman Richard Garbarino, ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez, Consul Reginald Bernabe, and event co-hosts TFC Balitang America’s Desk Editor Henni Espinosa and Seafood City Marketing Manager Mildred Smith.

Consul General Bernsurto’s message which was read by Consul Bernabe said the opening of the new Seafood City store showcases empowerment through Filipino American entrepreneurship. “We are not just gainfully employed, Seafood City proves that Filipino-Americans also provide gainful employment to other members of the Community,” Bensurto’s message said.

ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez, a major supporter of Seafood City, said, “It makes good sense to partner with another Filipino establishment like Seafood City with its proven history of providing a dynamic hub where Filipinos can shop, dine, get together and feel at home.”

Seafood City Chairman Steve Go presented a donations to the St. Augustine Church Children’s Choir, which sang the national anthem, and to Gawad Kalinga represented by newly elected Gawad Kalinga USA President Maricel Villanueva. GK will launch the “Kusina ng Kalinga” donation project at all Seafood City Stores.

Performers at the opening were violinist Corey Crywolffs, Kristine Kristine Sinajon, Sina and Mark Davis, Jackie Chavez and Ron Quesada, Kulintronica, an all-Filipino talent show provided by Luna and Company.

True to Filipino tradition, the community was served a bounty of Filipino favorites like pork barbecue, ukoy, grilled shrimp, Magnolia and Heavenly icec ream, sago at gulaman, makapuno icee and more.

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