We're slowly growing our team. It's an exciting time for us here at Umami Mart! We're looking for someone bright and attentive to work with us at our Oakland headquarters. Please read the job description below and drop us a line if...
After a seriously insane final few weeks of 2013, I'm SO ready to dive into the new year. Literally. Yoko and I, our partners, along with Atelier Dion, and my brother, are off to Hawaii for five days of sun, sleep and...
Our first year as Umami Mart in 3D has zipped by. We opened our doors at 815 Broadway on August 3, 2012, and what a year it's been! It seems like only yesterday that Yoko and I were having one of our weekly meetings at...
Guess what?? Umami Mart Oakland will celebrate its ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in August!!! Both Yoko and I are so grateful for all the support we've received this past year from our community, the Bay Area, and beyond. It's one thing to start...
Guess what, we're re-doing our floors!!! This is SO exciting for us -- as many of you know, our floors are white. While beautiful, we've come to a point where they must be replaced. We'll be getting down on our hands and...
Yo Martians! Mother's Day is NEXT SUNDAY MAY 12!!! Have you thought about what you're gonna do yet? Maybe take Mom out for a nice brunch? You can also get her something fun and original for her kitchen and home from Umami Mart! We've put...
It's been over six months now since Yoko and I started our shop in Oakland, and we'd love a motivated team member to join us! We're ready for a star intern to help us grow and be a part of the...
With winter roots and wild mushrooms in abundance, January was a perfect time to invite Kelly Geary to Umami Mart for a Quick-Pickling and Canning event. Author of a the book Tart and Sweet: 101 Canning and Pickling Recipes for...
The holidays are just around the corner, can you believe it??? I absolutely can not. It's been a crazy year for us at Umami Mart, and it's only about to get busier. I can't even believe it's Thanksgiving tomorrow, I have...
We are more than a little excited to announce our first art show with long-time Umami Mart contributor Erin Gleeson. A year ago, Erin started her photo and illustration blog The Forest Feast, after moving to the California woods from...
Our great friends and talented ceramicists Rie and Jay of Atelier Dion have designed cups for Umami Mart! Please join us this Thursday to celebrate the launch of our teacups, in three different designs. Of course, Rie and Jay will...
Happy October! The air is a bit crisper, the leaves, brighter. What better way to get ready for the colder months than to cozy up with coffee and tea? We'll be celebrating the mighty bean and tea leaf all month, with...
That's right, we be grillin' balls this Friday! Our good friends Koichi, Ryoji and Steven of YATAIYA will be making yaki-onigiri (grilled rice balls), and serving them alongside some house-made tsukemono (pickles). They are irresistible, smoky flavor-bombs! If we're lucky, they'll have other...
Photos by Erin Gleeson We did it! With the loving support from our friends, family, and community, Yoko and I have opened Umami Mart, a retail shop in Oakland, CA, specializing in kitchen + barware from Japan. The idea for starting a brick-and-mortar shop really...
Photos by Erin Gleeson After weeks of painting, building, going to Home Depot five times a day (ugh), sleepless nights, banh mis for breakfast/lunch/dinner, pestering our friends and families (are you done with that project yet? Can you cut wood for...
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS??? Umami Mart's big grand opening is tomorrow night! The doors will officially open at 6pm sharp, and we'll be having a special kagamiwari ceremony at 6:30pm, which is a tradition of breaking open a cask of sake. It symbolizes the...
Hello! Sorry I haven't been blogging much, but I wanted to update you on how the shop is coming along. Our big opening day will be next Friday 8/3! Waaaaa! We're slaving away here every day and have put everyone we know to work. Ha!...
I am ecstatic to announce that Yoko and I will be opening a real-deal brick and mortar store in Oakland, California!!! This all happened very quickly for us and these last few weeks have been filled with meetings, many trips to...
The Umami Mart Shop popped up in Old Oakland for five days last week inside Piper + John General Goods, located on the charming brick road of 9th Street. It was a great success! We launched on the bustling "First Friday", which is a huge sprawling...
The Umamimart Shop has been busy popping up all over the Bay Area, and here's one coming to Oakland! For this one, we're teaming up with the fine folks of Piper and John General Goods, a magical shop in historic Old Oakland. What: Umamimart Pop-Up...
