Originally opened in 1996 next to Irvine’s Heritage Plaza, the Persian supermarket Super Irvine was one of the city’s only Middle Eastern grocers for over 25 years, and the largest until rival Wholesome Choice opened in 2004. In 2022, the plaza’s owners pushed Super Irvine out and began a several-year redevelopment project that ultimately replaced it with a modern, cleaner Tokyo Central.
Super Irvine relocated temporarily to Mission Viejo’s Crown Valley Market Place – owned by the same family – and preserved its collections of imported pistachios, figs, spices, teas, sodas, and other packaged goods. An on-site bakery makes bread, and a produce section spills out onto the covered front patio with specially priced fruits and vegetables. A noteworthy addition, Bahar Restaurant, has a prominent staircase inside the market and a ground-level entrance outside, serving traditional Persian kabobs, soups, polo rice dishes, and desserts. Pre-made dips, salads, and cheeses inside the market also bear the Super Irvine name, letting visitors know they’re in the right place.
Super Irvine will reopen in fall 2025 in its namesake city, replacing Zion Mart, the former second location of Korean supermarket Zion Market. The new store in Parkview Center is expected to include ready-to-eat meals, a restaurant, a bar with Turkish coffee and juices, and a bakery.
