March 1, 2010
Sunrise Mart is Not a Porn Shop (NYC)
Sunrise Mart is a tiny little Japanese market in the East Village with a distinct, and authentically claustrophobic Tokyo feel. Located right above St. Mark’s Bookshop, the seedy porn shop-esque entrance is easy to miss. I have spent a lot of time here.
You’ve gotta brave the rickety elevator ride up to the second story (when the fourth person crams in here, fear for your life), and when the doors open, you’re welcomed into a little world of Japanese food, condiments, produce, carry-out meals, fresh meats and fish.
Altogether, there are about seven aisles, all pushed together and quite cramped. Just like New York City. Just like Tokyo.
SUNRISE MART
29 3rd Avenue
Between 10th Street & 2nd Avenue
NYC
T: 212.598.3040
4 Comments
Hilarious. My grandma owns an apartment building in Ohara, Setagaya in Tokyo and called it “Sunrise Ohara.” Something about the word “Sunrise” seems attractive to Japanese people. Yes, this mart looks cramped like the ones in Tokyo, but it looks like their shelves are much taller than the ones in Tokyo. I was always able to look over the tops of shelves in Japanese grocery stores… I’m 5’4″.
Awww how I miss Sunrise market. This was my go-to in NYC. They have my pepperoncino packets which I LOVE and of course soba(if you didn’t have money to go to Soba-ya next door). Miss you NYC!
Isn’t it because Nihon could be roughly translated to place where the sun rises so sunrise can be translated to Japan?
OH yeah! I never thought of that!