The Opening of An Upper East Side H Mart Forges Ahead, While Another Languishes
According to eyewitness reports on social media, the long-planned H Mart location at 223 East 86th St. is abuzz with construction activity, indicating an opening date could be approaching. The specialty grocer acquired the 8,500-square-foot retail condo for $8.7 million — roughly $1,020 per square foot — in late 2022, but the Upper East Side site remained largely dormant for years. A wave of new work permits filed in 2025 sparked social media buzz, and the pace of development has accelerated significantly this summer. What Now New York has reached out to establish an opening timeline. The progress in the Upper East Side stands in stark contrast to the legal gridlock at H Mart’s planned Tribeca outpost. According to the New York Post, the location at 111 Hudson Street is currently paralyzed by a lawsuit filed against the building’s condo board. The grocer alleges that the board passed severe limits on operating hours and sidewalk usage that would damage its business.
