Origins
Founded by Takao Yasuda, Don Quijote opened its first store in Suginami, Tokyo, in September 1980 under its original name, Just Co. Originally a retail store, Just Co. quickly switched to wholesale in 1982.[4][5][10]
In March 1989, the company opened its first "Don Quijote" named store in Fuchu, Tokyo. With the name change, the store also changed its primary business from wholesale to retail. In 1995, Just Co. followed suit and changed its corporate name to Don Quijote Co., Ltd. In June 1998, the company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.[5][10]
As one of the leading discount stores in Japan, the end of the Japanese economic bubble did not severely affect the company. Instead, the sudden economic uncertainty caused the Japanese public to become more thrifty and therefore helped to boost sales at its stores during the 1990s and early 2000s.[11][12]
In 2005, idol group AKB48 opened its theater on the eighth floor of the Don Quijote Akihabara Outlet in Tokyo.[13] Also that year, a Ferris wheel opened at the facade of the Don Quijote Dōtonbori branch in Osaka.[14]
In October 2007, Don Quijote purchased the ailing Nagasakiya chain for 140 billion yen.[10] This store and 3 other group companies went defunct in October 2017 as creditors have pulled the plug on their combined 432 billion yen of debts.[15] Creditors continue to bankroll the rest of the group.
In June 2017, PAQ, which operated Honolulu-based Times, Big Save and Shima under the subsidiary QSI, Inc., sold the 24 stores it owns in Hawaii to Honolulu-based Don Quijote (USA), using an executed stock purchase agreement with the sale closing in the 3rd quarter of 2017.[10] The deal will combine Times with three Don Quijote stores and two Marukai stores on Oahu. In a statement from Edwin Sawai, president of Don Quijote (USA) Co., Ltd. and Marukai Hawaii Co. Ltd., he said that “The opportunity to welcome the Times Supermarket family of stores and their employees to our ohana is exciting for us,” and added that “We are confident that we will successfully work together, share ideas and learn from each other's combined experiences to best serve Hawaii. For more than 68 years, Times Supermarket has been a local favorite and pillar of Hawaii's retail community. We look forward to continuing their history and success in the islands.”[16]
Further expansions
Singapore
Don Quijote opened its first Southeast Asian store at Orchard Central, Singapore, in December 2017.[17][18][19] These stores are branded "Don Don Donki" as the Don Quijote name was in use by a local restaurant.[20] Don Quijote opened a second store at the 100AM Mall in Tanjong Pagar in June 2018.[21] There are 17 Don Don Donki stores in Singapore:[22]
Singapore
Don Quijote opened its first Southeast Asian store at Orchard Central, Singapore, in December 2017.[17][18][19] These stores are branded "Don Don Donki" as the Don Quijote name was in use by a local restaurant.[20] Don Quijote opened a second store at the 100AM Mall in Tanjong Pagar in June 2018.[21] There are 17 Don Don Donki stores in Singapore:[22][23][24]
Hong Kong
Don Don Donki also expanded to Hong Kong with five outlets: one at Mira Place 2 in Tsim Sha Tsui, one at OP Mall in Tsuen Wan, one at Pearl City in Causeway Bay, one at 100QRC in Central and one at Monterey Place in Tseung Kwan O.[29][30] The chain opened one more store at the Island Resort Mall in Siu Sai Wan in February 2021,[31] and at TMT Plaza in Tuen Mun in July 2021.[32]
The store at Amoy Plaza in Jordan Valley opened in January 2022,[33] and another store opened at Fashion World in Whampoa Garden in August 2022. Don Don Donki opened its Mong Kok branch in 2024.
Thailand
In Thailand, 2 Don Don Donki stores have been closed, and 8 others are currently operational.
Taiwan
In January 2021, the first Don Don Donki store in Taiwan was opened in the Ximending Shopping District, Taipei, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The three-floor outlet is open 24 hours a day and is located near Ximen metro station. It attracted more than 500 people who lined up in front of the outlet before its grand opening.[43][44]
In January 2022, the second Don Don Donki store in Taiwan opened in the Zhongxiao Xinsheng business district of Taipei. The second store is an underground single-floor store with an area of about 1,540 square meters (16,500 square feet). The store is located in close proximity to the Zhongxiao Xinsheng metro station. The Zhongxiao Xinsheng store will also open alongside four different kinds of booths selling Japanese foods, including MOCHI-MOCHI (selling freshly made mochi), Inari Sushi Tamaya (selling Inari sushi), Kondo (selling Japanese Wagyu beef skewers), and Color Food and Fitness (selling daifuku made with seasonal Japanese fruits).[45]
In August 2023, the third Don Don Donki store in Taiwan opened in Citylink Nangang in Taipei.[46]
Malaysia
In March 2021, the first Don Don Donki store in Malaysia was opened in Lot 10 of Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, branded as "Jonetz by Don Don Donki".[6] A second store opened in December 2021 at Tropicana Gardens Mall in the Petaling Jaya district of Selangor. It was the biggest outlet in Southeast Asia, spanning 42,243 sq ft across two levels of the mall.[49] It closed permanently in May 2023.
A third store opened in Sunway Pyramid in October 2022. The fourth store that opened was in Mid Valley Megamall in January 2024. The fifth store was opened in NU Sentral in June 2024. The company also planned to open up 11 new outlets by June 2024.[50]
Macau
Don Don Donki opened its first store in Macau in September 2021, at Fai Chi Kei.[51] Don Don Donki also opened its store in Studio City located on the Cotai Strip in Macau in February 2024.
Guam
After breaking ground in February 2020, Don Don Donki was expected to open on Guam in the village of Tamuning under the name Village of Donki in September 2021.[52] It opened in April 2024.[53][54]
