Hana World Austin: A Beloved Asian Market Says Goodbye After Two Decades
Hana World, one of Austin’s most cherished Asian markets, has been a cultural anchor for the Asian community for over twenty years. For countless families, students, immigrants, and longtime Austinites, Hana World wasn’t just a grocery store, it was a place to reconnect with home.
Today, we share the heartbreaking news that Hana World is closing at the end of the year, and the Austin community is coming together in a powerful show of support. A GoFundMe has been launched to help the family navigate the unexpected losses caused by vandalism and the rising costs of keeping their doors open.
This post honors Hana World’s history, explains what happened, and outlines how you can help.
A Short History of Hana World in Austin
Before “Hana World” became a household name for Austin’s Asian community, the family operated New Oriental Market, located near Airport Boulevard. Many longtime residents remember wandering those aisles in the early 2000s, searching for the ingredients that reminded them of home.
When New Oriental Market closed, daughter Yunhui stepped in and opened what became Hana World, a larger, brighter version of the family’s vision. For years, Hana World has been the go-to place for:
Korean groceries
Japanese snacks
Fresh Asian produce
Kimchi ingredients
Asian cookware and kitchen staples
Comfort foods that are otherwise hard to find in Austin
Generations grew up shopping here. College students found their favorite childhood snacks. Families found the ingredients they couldn’t get anywhere else. And for many, Hana World was the first place they felt connected to Austin’s Asian community.
Why Hana World Is Closing
Recent years have been difficult for many family-owned small businesses in Austin, and Hana World was no exception.
According to owner Yunhui, the reason for closing is not just increased rent. It is the overall rise in the cost of running a small business, including:
Increased labor costs
Inflation and tariffs on imported goods
Rising utilities
Higher insurance premiums
Increasing cost of goods
These mounting pressures made it impossible for the market to continue operating sustainably.
The Vandalism That Made a Hard Situation Even Worse
In the midst of preparing for closure, the family faced an unexpected blow: Someone climbed onto the roof and cut the store’s refrigeration lines.
This resulted in thousands of dollars in product loss across refrigerated and frozen sections, on top of the financial strain they were already facing.
The timing was devastating, and the emotional impact on the family was immense.
How the Austin Community Responded
The ATX Asian Food Facebook Community Members immediately rallied around the family. Posts poured in:
People sharing their memories of shopping here
Stories of how the store helped them feel connected to home
Offers to help, volunteer, or donate
The outpouring of love showed just how deeply Hana World is woven into Austin’s Asian community.
Why a GoFundMe Was Created for Hana World
In response to overwhelming community support, Rebecca Le Founder of ATX Asian Food Community and The Honest Foodist and Nelson Lin of Soupleaf Hot Pot launched an official GoFundMe to help the family through this difficult transition.
What the Funds Will Support
According to Yunhui, the GoFundMe will help with:
Remaining operating expenses
Losses caused by the vandalism
Closing costs
Most importantly: supporting her employees
If the store cannot remain open through the end of the year, she hopes to use part of the funds to give her staff additional support so they won’t have to panic about finding a new job during the holiday season. Her employees, she said, are the reason she was able to get through this painful week at all.
How You Can Help Hana World (Call to Action)
If Hana World has ever been part of your life in Austin, whether it was your kimchi ingredients, your comfort snacks, your childhood flavors, or the place you brought your kids to show them where you grew up, please consider helping.
👉 Donate or share the GoFundMe
Donate or share the GoFundMe. Every share spreads the word. Every donation helps ease the burden on a family who has served this city with heart.
👉 Visit the store while they are still open
Clearing out remaining inventory helps offset their losses.
👉 Share your memories
Post photos, recipes, stories, or videos about what Hana World meant to you. It shows the family just how far their impact reaches.
A Final Thank You to the Hana World Family
To Yunhui, her family, and all the employees who kept this market running for two decades:
Thank you for shaping Austin’s Asian food landscape. Thank you for giving us a home away from home.
The community sees you.
The community appreciates you.
The community is standing with you.