We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Takeshi “TAK” Kunimune a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Takeshi “TAK”, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Growing up in Japan, I always believed that food is our most universal language—the fastest way to connect with others without needing a translator. When I first immigrated to the United States for college, that belief gained new meaning. Care packages from my grandmother—filled with Japanese snacks and instant noodles—kept me tethered to home. Each time I opened a box, I felt the comfort of a distant culture brought close enough to taste.
But I also found myself grappling with assumptions and stereotypes about Asian food, especially once I became a father to two mixed-race girls. Hearing people dismiss or judge Asian flavors as “cheap,” “dirty,” or “odd” struck a deeply personal chord. I wanted my children to grow up in a world where their heritage wasn’t belittled or misunderstood, but celebrated—where curiosity replaced suspicion, and tasting became a way to share stories and cultures.
Initially, I co-ran a pop-up with a neighbor, which wasn’t strictly AAPI-exclusive at the time, but it served as an invaluable prototype for what Mixed Pantry could become. I met customers from various AAPI backgrounds who felt overwhelmed by large Asian megastores, unsure of where to start or afraid of making a cultural misstep. Some were Asian adoptees seeking to reconnect with their roots, while older generations shared stories of having to assimilate and push their culinary heritage into the background.
Those interactions opened my eyes to AAPI experiences I hadn’t fully considered—like adoptees seeking a heritage they’d never truly known or older generations who’d had to push their culinary roots aside to fit in. Ultimately, it became clear there was a genuine need for an intentional, inclusive space dedicated to AAPI-owned products, so everyone could explore and celebrate the vastness of Asian flavors without judgment wherever you are coming from and whatever identities you hold. That realization drove me to transform my pop-up experiment into a permanent store focused on these communities.
<i>Why a Specialty Store for Asian Goods? Any unique approaches you took?</i>
I realized how many mainstream grocery chains dedicated entire aisles to “ethnic” foods while barely showcasing the rich variety of Asian flavors. They’d have beautiful cheese and wine sections, yet anything Asian was often crammed into a tiny space, often overlooked or undervalued. Meanwhile, BIPOC and AAPI food creators faced multi-level institutional barriers just to have their products taken seriously. I felt compelled to carve out a place where high-quality Asian items could be curated just as meticulously—and offered exclusively from AAPI-owned brands. That’s how Mixed Pantry emerged as a permanent store with a singular focus: spotlighting Asian and AAPI-owned foods, sauces, and snacks with the same reverence typically reserved for European imports. We became a bridge for folks craving authenticity and cultural connection.
At Mixed Pantry, I also wanted to do more than place jars on shelves. I wanted to lower the barrier that prevents many people from experiencing the richness of Asian cuisine. Rather than debate or debunk stereotypes through arguments, I chose taste as my ally. We offer product samples daily—dozens of them—so people can ask questions, explore flavor profiles, and learn about the backstories of each item. My team is trained not only to handle transactions but also to share context: whether a condiment’s recipe hails from a Japanese tradition or a chocolate uses unique nuts from Southeast Asia.
When people ask why Mixed Pantry is “pan-Asian,” my short answer is: it reflects real life. Many of us hold mixed identities—Korean kimchi one night, Japanese miso the next, a Filipino ube spread for dessert. This store embraces those cross-cultural connections and highlights what’s shared across various Asian traditions. I personally learn something new every time we bring in a vendor from a region I’m less familiar with, and I’m thrilled to pass those discoveries on to our customers.
At its core, Mixed Pantry exists because I believe food can dissolve misunderstandings and spark meaningful connections. I remember college friends who never understood their immigrant parents; now, as an immigrant dad myself, I see how introducing new, delicious flavors might reconnect families to their heritage. Every time a household tries a fresh find—be it a bold chili crisp or a subtle sesame spread—and shares it around the dinner table, we’re linking stories in ways words alone can’t.
<i>How did you know this would work?</i>
I knew Mixed Pantry would succeed because not many places are offering an immersive, educational environment exclusively highlighting AAPI products and communities surrounding them. We solve a real problem by removing intimidation, promoting top-notch foods, and honoring the people who craft them. This emotional drive—to see my kids, my friends, and my community take pride in Asian foods—has sustained me from our pop-up days through becoming a full-time store. Every pop-up event, each new brand we carry, and every heartfelt conversation confirms that people are eager to connect, especially now with the rise of AI. Mixed Pantry is that place—a welcoming space that merges the best of Asia’s flavors with cultural understanding. Food, to me, is the most universal language—one that carried me through immigration, fatherhood, and now small business ownership. I might not have every answer, but each time we invite someone to taste something new, we open a door to deeper understanding.
Takeshi “TAK”, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello! My name is TAK, and I’m a Japanese immigrant, a father to two mixed-race daughters, and the founder of Mixed Pantry in Seattle. Growing up, I saw food as the ultimate universal language—a simple way to connect people across cultures. When I moved to the U.S. for college, care packages from my grandmother kept me rooted in my heritage. But I also noticed how others misunderstood or dismissed Asian flavors as “strange” or “cheap,” which deeply resonated once I became a dad. I wanted my children to see their heritage celebrated, not stigmatized.
At Mixed Pantry, we focus on AAPI-owned culinary goods—from savory chili crisps to sweet jams—ensuring they’re showcased with the same care and reverence you might see in a top-tier European import section. We’re essentially a specialty store dedicated to bringing high-quality, pan-Asian products to the forefront. What sets us apart is our commitment to lowering barriers: we offer samples daily, encourage questions, and provide cultural context for each item so shoppers feel comfortable exploring new flavors. Our aim is to spark curiosity and connection, whether someone is an Asian adoptee reconnecting with their roots or a home cook wanting to try a new sauce for the first time.
I’m proudest of how Mixed Pantry has become a welcoming space for culinary cultural exchange. We regularly host in-store events and pop-ups for other AAPI entrepreneurs, shining a spotlight on the vibrant talents that often get overlooked. By curating exceptional products and wide range of samples, we hope to replace old misconceptions with understanding and delight. Ultimately, our store is about building bridges—one sample at a time—so people can appreciate the vast tapestry of Asian flavors and feel more at home in their own heritage, or discover a new favorite dish.
Whether you’re an experienced foodie or just starting your journey with Asian cuisine, we want you to leave Mixed Pantry feeling inspired—armed with fresh ideas and a deeper respect for the communities behind each product. That’s our mission: to connect people through food, celebrate AAPI stories, and share the joy of exploring diverse culinary traditions.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
For over a decade, I worked in the tech industry, where the standard mindset was always to move fast and think big. My roles in Silicon Valley taught me to operate at a global scale, lean on huge data sets, and push for rapid results. But when I left that environment to build a small, community-focused business, I quickly realized that approach didn’t translate neatly at all.
In a local retail setting—especially one as niche as Asian specialty foods—data is often sparse, and decisions can’t always be made by crunching spreadsheets. I had to unlearn the idea that speed and massive scale were the only paths to success. Instead, I learned to slow down and engage thoughtfully with customers and vendors on an individual level to learn what they need and how they feel. Rather than diving into global metrics, I rely on a small circle of community feedback, trust my gut, and run small prototypes to see how people respond in real time.
This slower, more intimate rhythm felt almost wrong at first. But I’ve come to embrace it, discovering that building genuine relationships and adapting based on personal conversations can be just as powerful—maybe even more so—than chasing data points at full speed.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
1. Start With the Right People Hire folks you genuinely respect—individuals who bring skills or perspectives you might lack. I like to think of it as assembling an “Avengers” team: if everyone’s Iron Man or everyone’s Hulk, you’ll be missing crucial abilities. Seek out diverse strengths that complement one another, so the entire team is more complete together than any one person is alone.
2. Help People Discover Their Niche
Help each team member identify what they’re good at and enjoy doing. That’s where they’ll thrive. Even if they are good at something, if they don’t like performing that activity, that should never be considered as their “strength.” Encourage them to become “specialists” in their domain so they can gain confidence and know how they uniquely contribute to the group.
3. Provide Autonomy & Trust
With the right people in place, and with each individual growing in their strengths, it’s important not to stifle creativity with micromanagement. Give as much freedom as you’re comfortable with—especially if they’re showing solid judgment. The world is always changing, and younger team members often have a pulse on new trends and methods. Lean into that energy rather than squashing it. The goal is to encourage rather than command, so everyone feels invested, confident, and ready to take on challenges together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mixedpantry.market
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixed.pantry
Image Credits
Rachel Grunig, Alison Katica Blomgren