Sweet memories: Beloved Japantown business closing after 115 years

A San Francisco store that has been part of San Francisco history for more than a century will close its doors for good this week. Customers lined up for hours at Benkyodo in Japantown to be served the final rounds of Japanese sweets. The owner is grateful to the community.
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[@genericamerican7574]

The deserve a sweet retirement to fill with a sweet variety of memories. 🌈🍡🕊

[@alwaysyouramanda]

There’s a small really old store called Asahi here. The owners were sent away a while to concentration camps and thankfully someone looked after their store. It’s still open today. 🥺💜

[@ag-bk5wf]

One shop in little Tokyo in LA closed last year after like 90yrs. Sad to see these historic places close.

[@bettiraige3474]

I've never been to San Francisco, but I knew about this place from tasting them at a friend's home. I burst out crying just now because I've always wanted to visit the shop. How terribly sad that it has to end.

[@jorgecaraballo1771]

It's sad to see a local shop that has a unique taste and heritage, to be replaced by a wendy's or a Starbucks store.

[@alwaysyouramanda]

I hate it here. 🥺💜

[@LCx829]

Government wants to rid small businesses

[@PhyuckYew]

If you know that area. Franchises aren't allowed to open there. More likely a hipster type restaurant in it's place.

[@sneat2028]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 What? There will never be formula retail in that area.

[@kyulee2758]

Cities need to save business like that.

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

Businesses like what?

[@richardseecharran3931]

@@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath business with deep rooted history within the community

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

@@richardseecharran3931 They wanted and could afford to retire, didn’t they?

[@kyulee2758]

@@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath it seems that many people are "retiring" not because they have enough money set aside and don't have to work. Especially when pandemic lasted this long.

[@angelazayas2753]

HEARTBREAKING, loved that bakery. Good luck to the owners.

[@TECHN0]

Why not offer items online on delivery apps?

[@rosaa658]

On NO !!! I wished I was there , I have been in San Francisco & I wished I’ve done my homework ! I would have visited , this place has history & I’m so happy 😁 that people are thanking them as they deserve . I love 💕 Japanese cuisine & all their hand crafted desserts 🍮. I love mochi ice cream 🍨, as a teenager in L.A I used to go to Little Tokyo during festivals. And enjoyed so much how they worked with warm colored sugar & make different things . Like cranes 🦢 etc & of course the food 🍱 Arts & Crafts ! But so happy 😁 for this wonderful family, to retire .

[@pank6271]

THEY SHOULD KEEP IT OPEN JUST HIRE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY AND KEEP IT OPEN FOR ANOTHER 115 YEARS .NOW THAT WOULD BE THE CHALLENGE

[@jyp523]

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one lol. Legit LOL’ed as soon as I heard Ricky & Bobby.

[@RobustArid379]

I never been there also. I feel sad it closes

[@bsr6823]

We have a place in my area that was open for over 100 years. The family decided to retire but a local restaurant group bought the business from them and it’s still going now. Hopefully something like this can happen here.

[@nnyv0040]

Happy retirement - thank you for your contribution to SAN FRAN!

[@kenderay99w.60]

This is sad . I’m happy they get to retire and not work.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

Good luck to SF. Here in LA, J-town has attracted the homeless.

[@mizzmia4407]

Heartbreaking to see it close

[@jamesprovost2602]

Bless You! 🙏💖✨

[@believeinyourself7511]

They need to make a big statue and make that place a museum artifact for that area.

[@SunShine-vo8kj]

If they are retiring, why not just sell the business make it contract to keep everything the same. You mean out of all those customers over the years no one knew anyone who could buy it or take over the business 🤔

[@larrysong953]

It's easy to say. It takes passion and spirit to succeed historical legendary business. The way the city it is would hardly make small retail business owners feel safe and secure.

[@gailmclaughlin6688]

Love these stories, but sad that they have to close.

[@Shazzyhtown]

Wow... there's no other way to keep this business? That is part of the city's history! So sad 😢

[@vampyrelycan99]

Oh no... my bad. Have been to JPTown many times but never recalled this wagashi store. Anyway very sad indeed... Guess it's the end of another good era in SF JPTown's history.

[@a1visuals761]

Was Ricky and Bobby fans of Talladega nights

[@gugomkrtchyan1927]

These people are more American then most of this country

[@lindalewis5066]

It's killing me, all the historic restaurants that are closing in San Francisco. 😞

[@damsel72]

No!!! This is tragic. 😭

[@genericamerican7574]

So they don’t have kids to pass it down? Hopefully a new business that becomes part of the community too.

[@donfitzsimons6673]

I was thinking of the employees. From the video, they are already over half the workforce and probably know every step of manufacture. An employee-owned store could carry on.

[@ConstantlyRepeatingMyself]

They probably want to get out of the hell hole that is San Fran.

[@Fstop313]

@@ConstantlyRepeatingMyself yeah. San fran isnt exactly the greatest right now.

[@iseeflowers]

Or maybe sell the business to mochi lovers to take over and keep the culture, history and value of this shop.

[@calmingambienceasmr6108]

@@donfitzsimons6673 It's not even legal for them to run this business in 2022. I can see violations in the video like employees not wearing hairnets ect. There is probably other violations like fire code ect.

[@micheleondeck5373]

long time to be in business

[@charlesxavier5681]

Wow 😮

[@shannonnewman3091]

This is Sad.

[@larrysong953]

My heartbroken is this beautiful city and the community are no longer the way it used to be. It used to be business friendly and full of tourist place. Big and small businesses are leaving SF.

[@madbug1965]

You can still get locally made manju in Sacramento...

[@Kawayoporu]

Are there any other Benkyodos left?

[@collinhoey5517]

Enlightenment forever., Memories will linger!

[@haven_lady675]

Aw noooooo

[@mandalor-8315]

Just sadd ....

[@beatpirate8]

No one can replace them. But I wish whoever opens again will also be a mochi store! I feel there should be at least one mochi store in Japan town! It’s not the same as packaged and machine made ones!

[@julial3758]

Time to make a KZbin video and share the recipes to the world so that it lives on.

[@SunshineInCA14]

😥❤

[@jujub4553]

Whyyyyyyyy do we never hear about these until it’s too late 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@missf4681]

Thar is too bad after all this time. But I guess they are tired after all thus time. God bless and keep them and I hope their retirement is long and healthy and they enjoy what they have earned

[@Kawayoporu]

What about the owner's great-grand children, why are they not keeping the store now instead of closing, were they not interested in it, I wish they mention about the grandson's adult kids now taking over?! I was thinking about visiting Japantown in San Francisco after Little Tokyo Los Angeles one day and eat mochi in both of these Japanese little cities!

[@fabsagu5421]

Someone save it

[@brianp5205]

Businesses are begging for new hires but they are all in a 6 hour line for mochi...

[@levelintent]

They never said WHY they were closing though... I'm sure the grandchildren don't want to carry on the business, but they couldn't sell it to someone else or hire new managers and new staff? Or is it that people just don't want those types of snacks anymore...? Well, 115 years is a good run.

[@adr1ana1000]

They maybe dont have kids or their kids dont want that kind of business.

[@eyang7]

That or their kids don't want their grandparents to go thru all the violence or robbery. Sf is not safe for the elderly Asians anymore.

[@adr1ana1000]

@@eyang7 can be .. but you cant let violence win over you. But good for them.

[@miti342]

I wish people supported asian business more.. without us the world can't stand

[@JohnAranita]

I fudging love MOCHI. Very tempting!! Somewhere in Maui (Hawai'i) has famous MANJU.

[@4Realkevv]

U guys would put asain reporter smh

[@a.a.a.8365]

More of Americana🇯🇵🇺🇲 disappearing so sad...☹

[@erykahhoney588]

Everything in S.F is falling apart 😏

[@Adam-qv2bd]

Ricky Bobby

[@dame7duce]

Ricky Bobby if you're not First you're Last 😀😃😄😁😆🤣😂😅😅😅😅

[@eyang7]

Sad but good in a way. Better to get out of there while u can. That city is not safe for elderly Asians anymore. Too much violence and robberies.

[@joeartega1712]

You must WEAR A Hair net 2 ladies did not, don't care how short, WEAR A HAIR NET

[@shadow.banned]

Worth it, Feinstein, Pelosi? Build back deader.

[@Nonenone23]

Good riddens

[@johnnyk6906]

these are traditionally Chinese desserts? I can fine all of these in Chinese bakery.

[@vampyrelycan99]

FYI, you can't find wagashi like dango and daifuku at a Chinese bakery. Just saying......

[@AcemanX]

Probably from all the animals thieves lurking around that God forsaken city...sfo was amazing in the 90s, 2000s, then just turned to crap in the last decade...

[@sneat2028]

You obviously haven't a clue where Japan Town is. The owners are retiring.

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

The dung eater don’t need food

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

Rip off prices

[@greengabe5]

You suck what?

[@OscarLopez-si2wg]

I don't feel sorry. Cause they kept it in the family.. They got rich outta all cultures. But they never share they wealth. Asians or super selfish when is about money. But is okay I don't blame em. Is the culture and religion

[@CoffeeMadeMeSay]

What the f you talking about

[@Kyle-rp9fi]

Wanna know why they got rich outta all cultures cause of their work ethic u lazy bum and of course they’re gonna wanna keep it in the family who else are they gonna give it to you 😂

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

@@CoffeeMadeMeSay He probably didn’t notice all the Hispanic, white, and black employees

[@Kyle-rp9fi]

they’re business owners to so obviously they’re gonna make more money when all your employees are family you dont need to pay someone else an outrageous wage its a family grind bro sum you dont know about

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

@@julieornburn You’re the only racist here