Novelty Japanese Dollar Store Daiso Expands Houston Presence

Just 243 yen can buy a little taste of kawaii in Texas.

Japanese dollar-store Daiso is planning its sixth and seventh Greater Houston locations, plus a location in Round Rock, according to filings with the state of Texas. Known for its $1.75 price tag and cute novelty items, the retailer is rapidly expanding across the Texas Triangle.

One location, scheduled to break ground in August, is being developed off Fairbanks at 6815 Highway 6 North between Jersey Village and Cypress. New York-based real estate firm Kimco Realty is leading the project, with plans to renovate the Copperwood Village retail center’s former Pier 1 location into the 8,100-square-foot Daiso.

Construction is expected to last two months with completion scheduled for October. However, information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is subject to change.

A 6,500-square-foot location will begin construction in October with full build-out estimated for the first quarter of 2024. It will be located within the West Road Plaza off of North Freeway. West Road Plaza is owned by Beverly Hills-based investment firm Unilev. The state filing suggests the plans for the project include upgrade equipment, fixtures, finishes and accessibility accommodations. West Road LP, which has the same address as Unilev Management, is listed as the owner.

The Round Rock location, spanning 7,500 square feet, will be at 2601 La Frontera Boulevard. Construction is expected to last from October to February.

Illinois-based design firm the W-T Group is spearheading design.

Daiso has built most of its Greater Houston stores within the past two years. It opened in the Commons at Willowbrook, at 7740 FM 1960, on March 29. Six months prior, the retailer opened its fourth Houston store in Shenandoah, at 8821 Metropark Drive, less than 3 miles north of the Woodlands.

Daiso first landed in Texas in 2015 in the DFW suburb of Carrollton, 15 miles due west of Plano.

Today, it has more than a dozen stores across the Texas Triangle, with more than half situated in DFW, and it recently opened a distribution hub in Desoto, a suburb just south of Dallas.

Daiso isn’t the only Japanese retailer solidifying itself in Texas. Popular Japanese-style casual department shop, Teso Life, is heading to Westheimer’s internationally inspired plaza West on West, which is being developed by NewQuest Properties. Located at 12220 Westheimer Road, the department store will be constructed near Japanese grocery shops Daido Market and Seiwa Market. It will be Teso Life’s third store in Texas, alongside a location in Carrollton and a Frisco location, which is also currently under development.