I saw this article over breakfast at Urth Caffe this morning
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A Sweet Century
The Little Tokyo Bakery Mikawaya Celebrates 100 Years
by Richard Guzmán
[image]
Frances Hashimoto has been running Mikawaya since 1970. Her family bought the Little Tokyo business in 1910. Photo by Gary Leonard.
Published: Friday, March 5, 2010
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Frances Hashimoto jumps out of her chair when a few of her longtime customers walk in. She hugs them, says a few words in Japanese, and they go off to buy some sweets.
The scene repeats a few minutes later when George Takei enters the shop in Japanese Village Plaza. She hugs the actor, best known for his role as Sulu in gStar Trekh but a champion of Little Tokyo for decades. She hugs him and leads him to the back of the store where he peruses some colorful confections in a glass case.
Meanwhile, a young couple sits at a nearby table, ready to try the storefs specialty for the first time.
Itfs a typical day at Mikawaya, the Little Tokyo-based bakery and ice cream empire that is celebrating 100 years in business this month. In its century long history, it has become a community gathering place, and is famous for inventing a quirky but popular ice cream treat.
gWefve been very lucky to be part of this community for so long,h said Hashimoto, the president and CEO of Mikawaya.
Her family bought the bakery in 1910 and, after taking over 40 years ago, Hashimoto now runs the $13 million-a-year business. The operations include five retail stores, one of them in Honolulu, as well as a 10,000-square-foot warehouse and bakery on Fourth Street in Downtown and a recently opened 100,000-square-foot facility in Vernon where they manufacture ice cream.
But itfs the loyal customers who keep the flagship space in Japanese Village Plaza thriving.
gIfve been a customer here ever since Ifve been a kid,h Takei said, holding up a bag of pastries he had just purchased.
Takei will host a 100th birthday party for the store on Monday, March 8.
===============================
A Sweet Century
The Little Tokyo Bakery Mikawaya Celebrates 100 Years
by Richard Guzmán
[image]
![[image]](http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/2triky/doc4b91a2910420a040951010.jpg){kind=link}
Frances Hashimoto has been running Mikawaya since 1970. Her family bought the Little Tokyo business in 1910. Photo by Gary Leonard.
Published: Friday, March 5, 2010
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Frances Hashimoto jumps out of her chair when a few of her longtime customers walk in. She hugs them, says a few words in Japanese, and they go off to buy some sweets.
The scene repeats a few minutes later when George Takei enters the shop in Japanese Village Plaza. She hugs the actor, best known for his role as Sulu in gStar Trekh but a champion of Little Tokyo for decades. She hugs him and leads him to the back of the store where he peruses some colorful confections in a glass case.
Meanwhile, a young couple sits at a nearby table, ready to try the storefs specialty for the first time.
Itfs a typical day at Mikawaya, the Little Tokyo-based bakery and ice cream empire that is celebrating 100 years in business this month. In its century long history, it has become a community gathering place, and is famous for inventing a quirky but popular ice cream treat.
gWefve been very lucky to be part of this community for so long,h said Hashimoto, the president and CEO of Mikawaya.
Her family bought the bakery in 1910 and, after taking over 40 years ago, Hashimoto now runs the $13 million-a-year business. The operations include five retail stores, one of them in Honolulu, as well as a 10,000-square-foot warehouse and bakery on Fourth Street in Downtown and a recently opened 100,000-square-foot facility in Vernon where they manufacture ice cream.
But itfs the loyal customers who keep the flagship space in Japanese Village Plaza thriving.
gIfve been a customer here ever since Ifve been a kid,h Takei said, holding up a bag of pastries he had just purchased.
Takei will host a 100th birthday party for the store on Monday, March 8.