Dae Soon Kim, the founder of Kim’s Home Center in Koreatown, passed away earlier this month, the decades-old household goods store announced Saturday. He was 91.<\/p>\n
“It is with heavy hearts that we remember Dae Soon Kim, founder of Kim’s Home Center, husband, father, grandfather, and a pillar of the Koreatown community,” the store said in an Instagram post<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kim’s Home Center opened in 1979 and has remained a family-owned business ever since. Located near Olympic Boulevard and Fedora Street, the two-story store with a colorful tiled exterior is sometimes described as the Korean version of an Ikea or a “mini Korea,” selling thousands of items, ranging from clothing and K-beauty products to rice cookers and kimchi refrigerators.<\/p>\n Many families in Southern California have gone there to stock up on Korean household essentials, such as rubber dishwashing gloves, house slippers, blankets and electric heating pads.<\/p>\n “For generations of Korean-American families, Kim’s Home Center became more than just a store. It became a part of their lives and a connection to home,” the store said. “We are humbled to see how his hard work, dedication, and commitment have helped shape the business we are today, a beloved staple in Koreatown and beyond.”<\/p>\n Kim’s Home Center at 2940 West Olympic Boulevard is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Earlier this year, the store also launched a limited online store.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t