California’s Largest T&T Is Replacing a Vacant Macy’s, Bringing New Hope to NewPark Mall 

A vacant department store space at NewPark Mall is about to become the center of a major transformation. T&T Supermarket, the Canadian Asian grocery chain known for its specialty foods, bakery, prepared meals, and international products, is bringing a large new location to Newark, California. Its arrival at NewPark Mall represents more than a grocery store opening. It signals an effort to breathe new life into a shopping center that has spent years adjusting to the decline of traditional department stores. 

The new store will move into the former Macy’s location, a large anchor space that became vacant after Macy’s closed in 2025. According to local reports, the supermarket is expected to open in winter 2027 and become T&T’s largest California location. While the project has created excitement among residents, it also highlights the bigger challenge facing malls across America: finding new ways to attract shoppers in a changing retail landscape. 

Here is what residents need to know about the project, who is behind it, when it is coming, and what it could mean for Newark and the wider East Bay community. 

The Macy’s Vacancy Is Finally Getting a Major Replacement 

The biggest story behind the T&T Supermarket announcement is the space it will replace. For years, NewPark Mall relied on major department stores to bring consistent customer traffic. However, like many malls across the country, the property has faced pressure as shoppers have shifted toward online purchases and alternative retail experiences. 

Macy’s closure in March 2025 left one of the mall’s largest spaces empty. Now, the 72,600-square-foot location will have a new purpose. Instead of a traditional department store, residents will see a grocery destination designed around frequent visits, prepared foods, cultural products, and everyday shopping. 

This change reflects a broader shift in American retail. Supermarkets can create regular weekly traffic because customers return frequently for food, household items, and meals. For NewPark Mall, the arrival of T&T could provide a new source of activity beyond occasional shopping trips. 

T&T Supermarket Is Bringing More Than Just Groceries 

T&T Supermarket is not a typical grocery store. The company has built its reputation around Asian food products, fresh ingredients, specialty items, and ready-to-eat meals. The Newark location is expected to feature fresh produce, seafood, bakery items, prepared foods, and products that can be difficult to find at traditional supermarkets. 

The company, founded in Vancouver in 1993, has expanded across Canada and entered the U.S. market, with plans to grow its presence there. T&T is owned by Loblaw Companies Limited, one of Canada’s largest retail companies, and is led by CEO Tina Lee. 

The Newark store is expected to feature amenities that appeal to both longtime Asian grocery shoppers and customers seeking new food experiences. Its bakery, hot-food section, and prepared meals could make it a destination for quick lunches, family dinners, and weekend visits. 

Newark Residents Could See New Jobs and More Choices 

For local residents, the impact of T&T Supermarket may extend beyond shopping. The company has projected that the Newark location could create hundreds of jobs, including positions in grocery operations, food preparation, customer service, and management. 

Newark officials have welcomed the project as an opportunity to bring new investment and activity to the city. The supermarket also matches the diversity of the East Bay, where many families have long traveled to other areas to find specialty ingredients and international food options. 

The opening could also benefit nearby businesses inside NewPark Mall. More visitors coming for groceries may increase exposure for restaurants, entertainment venues, and smaller retailers. However, the long-term impact will depend on whether the mall continues to attract additional tenants and improve the overall shopping experience. 

The New Supermarket Arrives During a Bigger Mall Transformation 

The T&T Supermarket project is part of a larger effort to reshape NewPark Mall. The property has already changed significantly with new developments, including Costco’s arrival in 2023 and plans connected to future mixed-use growth. 

The challenge is that a single major tenant cannot solve every issue facing a shopping center. Across the country, malls have struggled with empty storefronts, changing consumer habits, and competition from online shopping. Successful redevelopment often requires a combination of retail, restaurants, entertainment, housing, and community spaces. 

For NewPark Mall, T&T provides an important piece of that strategy. A supermarket can create daily activity in a way that many traditional retailers no longer can. But the mall’s next chapter will depend on how effectively it is built around this new anchor. 

Traffic, Parking, and Growth Will Be Key Issues to Watch 

The excitement surrounding T&T Supermarket also comes with practical questions. A store expected to attract shoppers from Newark, Fremont, Union City, Hayward, and other East Bay communities could increase traffic around the mall. 

The company has highlighted NewPark Mall’s location and parking availability as advantages. Still, local officials and residents will likely pay attention to road access, parking flow, and the impact of increased activity on nearby areas. 

These concerns do not mean the project is unwelcome. Instead, they reflect the reality of major developments. When large retailers arrive, communities often balance economic opportunities with planning challenges. 

NewPark Mall’s Future Depends on More Than One Store 

The arrival of T&T Supermarket gives NewPark Mall something it has lacked for years: a major reason for people to visit regularly. The project represents a shift away from the old department-store model toward a more experience-driven destination built around food, services, and community activity. 

For Newark residents, the supermarket could mean easier access to specialty foods, new employment opportunities, and more activity at a familiar location. For mall owners and city leaders, it is a test of whether traditional shopping centers can reinvent themselves successfully. 

T&T Supermarket at NewPark Mall is more than a grocery store replacing an empty building. It reflects a broader shift in American retail as communities seek new anchors that bring people together more often. Whether T&T becomes the start of NewPark Mall’s comeback will depend on what happens next.