Don Quijote Buying Times Supermarkets

QSI Inc., the Honolulu-based operator of Hawaiian chain Times Supermarkets, has agreed to sell the operation to the Tokyo-based Don Quijote Group, an operator of 354 international discount retail and convenience stores, including locations in Hawaii.

The sale will include all 17 Times stores, five Big Save Markets, one Shimas’ Supermarket and one Fujioka’s Wine Times.

Don Quijote’s immediate plans are to keep operating all acquired retail locations and retain the 1,600 QSI associates. The deal is anticipated to close in late third quarter of this year and will not affect store operations.

Times first opened its doors in 1949. In 2002, QSI purchased it, continuing to operate all 12 of its locations on the island of Oahu. In 2004, QSI acquired Fujioka’s Wine Merchants and continued to operate the business under the name Fujioka’s Wine Times. In 2009, QSI acquired Star Markets, adding five more locations to the Times Supermarket banner. Two years later, QSI acquired five Big Save Markets on the island of Kauai, operating them under the Big Save banner until the acquisition.