So sad to see this close. This was one of the best things about living around Zhongxiao Fuxing. A very large supermarket by Taiwan’s standards, it was the closest thing to the types of big supermarkets I’m used to in Europe.
For me it was better than Costco, which I like but feels catered towards buying everything in bulk, and all the Costco locations are outside of central Taipei.
This Mega PXMart (formerly RT Mart) had most things you could want, and at comparitively normal prices too, rather than its very expensive counterparts like City Super close by.
Taiwan used to have M&S, Carrefour, and this. Now it has none.
A little bit hard to relate to as most of us can’t remotely afford to live in central Taipei, I believe there are plenty of big supermarkets all over Taiwan, unfortunately owned by President now though.
They are going to close the huge one in 中和/永和 as well. A shame to lose more options, although I think Mega PX Mart was strictly worse than RT Mart in terms of choice.
Does anyone feel like imported goods have sucked since COVID? Probably something to do with supply lines being disrupted and more costly now. For example, used to be able to find great craft beers from the states. Now it’s mostly just Japanese and German beers. And not the exciting ones either.
Probably good for my waistline. I used to drink beers every weekend. Now maybe once every two months. Just nothing on the shelves interests me. Great way to sober up, I guess.
The main importer of US craft beer has been restructuring their company for many many months. However, I don’t think they work with supermarkets so that’s probably irrelevant. RT Mart used to independently import their beer and spirits, since the PX take over obviously that perk has disappeared sadly. They had lots of interesting stuff for really good prices.
I wasn’t here during covid but I’m still lamenting the loss of the American pale ale I could find at local shops. Was a wonderful break from the choices of lager lager lager of most places.
The margins/profit is low, and when rent is high and going up, they just quit. Ask a small shop that shuts down, often it’s the rent, with Taiwan low cost of goods they have not enough profit to pay rent or something better to do with the money like Carrefour, sell out and get cash to use for something that has better returns or stock bybacks.
The giant H&M at 西門町 is closing due to rent prices getting increased. Landlords are going to continue to strangle Taiwan and nothing is going to be done about it.
I think also the costumers in Taiwan suck. Costco Okinawa have everything that Costco Taiwan used to have and more. I think locals love to buy shit in here. And the shit they buy have way better margin too.
I gave my Taiwanese brother-in-law an American craft beer (well, the closest you could get to craft here… I think it was a Dogfish Head or something). I wanted to impress him with something I thought clearly superior to the usual Taiwan Gold or Heineken he was always drinking. Well, he reluctantly took a sip from it and then made a face and admonished me to just “get Heineken” next time.
I heard it’s dying cos so many craft beer drinkers have no brand loyalty as they are constantly in search of the next different taste, so most breweries stay tiny and struggle.
