Downtown San Jose is about to get a serious infusion of Japanese flavor. Osaka Marketplace is rolling out a new concept called Sakura Market on the Paseo de San Antonio, with plans for sushi, an interactive instant ramen station, a Japanese sake and beer bar and a matcha drink shop. The incoming spot is set to serve as both a grocery option and a food hall-style magnet for a stretch of downtown that has struggled to keep steady foot traffic.
According to The Mercury News, Sakura Market will take over roughly 5,000 square feet in the former MUJI space on the paseo. The site has already posted "now hiring" signs seeking cashiers, customer service workers, stockers, cleaning staff, bartenders and sushi preparers, with advertised pay ranging from $18.45 to $21 per hour.
What Sakura Market Will Offer
Osaka Marketplace describes Sakura as a hybrid of Japanese grocery store and prepared-food destination, pairing curated retail shelves with a sushi buffet and several made-to-order counters. The company’s site also offers downloadable job applications and a contact email for applicants, signaling that hiring for the San Jose outpost is already underway.
Downtown Retail And Office Context
Specialty grocers and food halls are often treated as anchor tenants for urban retail corridors, a role city officials and landlords in San Jose have been eager to fill as they look for new daytime and evening draws. Downtown office vacancy reached roughly 30% at the end of 2025, based on Cushman & Wakefield data cited by The Real Deal, and the area has had limited grocery options since a small-format Safeway on South Second Street closed in 2019, according to local reporting.
Hiring And Neighborhood Effects
The "now hiring" notices point to a mix of part-time and full-time roles that could bring dozens of entry-level and service jobs to the Paseo de San Antonio corridor. Osaka Marketplace’s main jobs page lists positions and application PDFs, and the company’s existing Fremont and Foster City locations offer a preview of how the sushi counters, cafe and retail floors might function once the San Jose market opens.
If Sakura Market opens as planned, nearby merchants and property managers are likely to welcome any dependable draw that can boost weekday and evening crowds. City officials and retailers are watching for an official opening date and additional staffing updates in the weeks ahead.
